Whale Watching in New Brunswick – What to Expect on Your Next Trip to the Bay of Fundy

To get a glimpse of whales in the bay of Fundy, you have to travel to the town of Port Rodney. There are a number of guided whale tours that can help you learn more about this magnificent species. The sight of whales being so close to shore is a spectacular sight indeed. The whales travel along the coast of Labrador and travel up and down the west coast of Canada searching for their next prey.

Up to twelve distinct species of whales can be found in the Bay of Fundy throughout the year. The largest whales, like the killer whales, travel from the warmer southern waters to the cold polar currents in search of krill and other forms of prey. The whales primarily use the bay as their home, feeding station and breeding ground. They also feed on the large numbers of school of young herring, squid and mackerel found in the entire bay due to the strong Fundy tides. The whales’ feeding grounds include the narrow beaches between Cape Reinga and Labrador’s Cape Spencer, the narrow bays inlets along the Labrador coast and the open bays at Puckle Beach and Cape May.

If you have the opportunity to arrange a whale watching cruise, then it would be a good idea to take one in the spring when the tides are higher and the waters warmer. Humpback Whales and Humphead Whales are the two types of whales that typically frequent the Bay of Fundy. It is also possible to see grey whales during these times. Grey whales are generally seen from April to October. There is also an abundance of pelagic creatures during these times such as sharks, dolphins, eels, turtles and other marine denizens.

Aside from whales, there are many other interesting creatures in the Bay of Fundy, most notably, the rare New Brunswick shark. New Brunswick sharks are unique because their dorsal fins are fused together, instead of being separate like the fins of other species. They are also short-finned, with a sharp hook behind the dorsal area for grabbing food. This unique characteristic makes them vulnerable to being caught by fishermen looking to steal the animals for shark bait.

Other incidents of whales in the Gulf of Fundy include human entanglements. In July 2021, a fisherman was bitten by a gray whale. Although no injuries were reported, the incident caused the closure of a popular fishing site in the region, as many tourists were unable to fish because the beach was closed off for several days. Experts believe that this is the first time that a grey whale has put up a full-frontal bite, although other pods of whales have been known to do so in the past.

Being in close proximity to the east coast, whales in the Bay of Fundy can be expected to come to the area to feed during the winter months. Their migration route takes them across the Gulf of Mexico, from southern Canada and the United States all the way to the mouth of Portage la Prairie, Man., where they give birth to their young during April to May. This year’s calf is the first to have come in from the colder waters of Canada. This, along with the fact that it is expected to make its migration back southward, gives whale watching enthusiasts in New Brunswick another reason to head out for the coast every winter. In fact, the tourism season for the province is almost as busy as the annual marathon. Whether it is for a great Grey whale sighting, or a chance at catching the elusive New Brunswick shark, the weather in New Brunswick makes it an ideal location for whale watching no matter what time of year it is.

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