On Monday October 31st at 8:00am the Marine Mammal Stranding Center responded to a Minke whale in the back bay of Brigantine. While out on his skiff starting his workday, local bayman Eric Tucker discovered the 22-foot whale stranded on a sandbar and immediately reported it.  Without hesitation, he volunteered his time throughout the rest of the day, using his vessel to transport our stranding technician and veterinarian to the whale's location and staying on scene to assist. Fortunately, the whale refloated on the incoming tide. The team stayed on scene to observe the whale, who by the afternoon was swimming in the deeper channel. The Minke whale was last observed at 4:30pm swimming out of the bay towards the inlet. Thank you, Eric, for going above and beyond to help this whale!

The Minke whale is the smallest baleen whale in North American waters. They have a relatively small, dark, sleek body with a well-defined white band located in the middle of their dark flippers. This species can reach lengths of up to about 35 feet and weigh up to 20,000 pounds. The MMSC has responded to 32 stranded Minke whales since 1978.