Minke whale dies after beaching along Shubenacadie River

A minke whale that beached along the shore of the Shubenacadie River near Clifton, N.S., on Sunday has died, according to the Marine Animal Response Society.

Tonya Wimmer, executive director of the Marine Animal Response Society, told CBC News the group received a call this morning about a live whale on the mud flats near the mouth of the river. 

"One of our initial responders went to have a look and unfortunately by the time he arrived, it had passed away," she said.

It's unclear if the whale was male or female because it's on its stomach, she said. The whale was eight metres long.

"It would be a bit of a younger animal, it's not as big as they get but it isn't a calf or a very young juvenile," Wimmer said.

The society is now working with Fisheries and Oceans Canada along with the local community to determine next steps.

Wimmer said the society can't get a team down to the whale to conduct a necropsy or move the whale because of the deep mud.

"Our first responder went down and was able to document the animal as best as he could, but it is very tricky when you're dealing with the mud of the texture in that area. It is quite deep and can be quite unsafe," Wimmer said.

She said the society will wait to see if the tide will move the whale to a more accessible area.

At this point, it's unclear how the whale died.

"Anywhere that fish are running, we generally do get marine mammals that will follow them from time to time," Wimmer said. "Until we can actually investigate the animal, it's a little bit up in the air exactly as to what happened."

The whale drew onlookers to the shoreline at the mouth of the river. 

Under sunny skies, spectators waded through tall grass and thick mud to get a closer look at the animal. 

Twelve-year-old Dannan Forbes, a local resident, said her family had heard the whale was alive and came to help.

"I was just doing my chores and my mom told me there was a whale out here, so we drove out," said Forbes, her rubber boots caked with mud. 

"My dad and my two brothers had already left and they came to see if they could save the whale."

Forbes said it's sad that the whale died, but "it's part of nature."

This minke whale is at least the third whale death reported around the Maritimes in a week.

A minke whale was found dead on Queensland Beach in Nova Scotia on Wednesday.

A North Atlantic right whale was found dead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Tuesday.