NANTUCKET, Mass. – Two endangered North Atlantic right whales have been spotted off Massachusetts with entanglements that could potentially be life-threatening to the massive mammals.

According to NOAA Fisheries, an aerial survey team recently spotted a pair of whales approximately 50 miles southeast of Nantucket on Dec. 9. 

The smaller of the two marine animals was first sighted in 2021 and was seen free of gear as recently as April. 

But now, the survey team said a thick rope was located over the whale’s head and back, which could cause its eventual death.

The larger whale, identified as an adult female, was last seen without gear as recently as July and, due to its size, is unlikely to be as significantly impacted as the juvenile.

“This whale has two lines exiting the left side of her mouth, with both lines extending a half to two thirds of the way down the body,” NOAA stated. “After reviewing the entanglement, NOAA Fisheries biologists have made a preliminary determination that it meets the Unusual Mortality Event criteria as a ‘morbidity’ (sublethal injury) case.”

North Atlantic right whale #5110 with a line wrapped around its body on December 9, 2024

(NOAA)

FIRST RIGHT WHALE CALF OF SEASON SPOTTED OFF SOUTHEAST COAST

Due to conditions and the distance to shore, NOAA entanglement response teams did not mount a response but stand at the ready should the occasion arise.

The agency estimates that over 85% of right whales are entangled in fishing gear at least once during their lifetime, which can cause serious injuries.

The marine animals tend to spend most of their time off the coast of Canada and the Northeast in the western Atlantic before migrating southward for the calving season.

The right whales are considered to be the 149th and 150th documented cases in the ongoing North Atlantic right whale Unusual Mortality Event (UME), which includes dead, seriously injured or health-compromised animals.

FLORIDA IDENTIFIES NEXT INVASIVE SPECIES THREAT

NOAA Fisheries estimates there are only around 370 North Atlantic right whales left in existence – down from a peak of around 20,000 during the late 1800s.

Since 2017, the species has been experiencing an Unusual Mortality Event, which has caused dozens to become sick, injured or ultimately pass away.

North Atlantic Right Whale Population

(NOAA)

“While entanglements remain the leading cause of death and injury, this year [2024] there were at least six vessel strike-related injuries/deaths, highlighting the importance of addressing this issue soon,” Heather Pettis, a research scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center and the chair of the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium, previously stated. “The persistent aggregation of more than 50 right whales in the New York shipping lane this summer underscores this even further.”

Are you dreaming of a White Christmas?

You could be in luck if you live in certain spots of the Bay State.

A few rounds of snow showers in the days leading up to Dec. 25 means there’s a “decent chance” for a White Christmas in parts of Massachusetts, according to the National Weather Service’s Boston office.

The first round of snow is expected to come late Friday night into Saturday from an offshore coastal storm. Meteorologists are forecasting about 1 to 3 inches of snow, with the highest amounts across interior eastern Massachusetts.

“… Not expecting much in the way of impacts from this wintry system, more of a festive pre-Christmas snowfall that will drop anywhere from a coating to an inch or two from Friday into Saturday afternoon,” reads the National Weather Service’s forecast discussion.

Following the snow, get ready to bundle up. It will get downright frigid over the weekend.

“It will be one of the coldest air masses we’ve seen so far in the early portion of these winter months,” Andrew Loconto,a  meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Boston office, told the Herald.

High temps on Saturday will be around freezing, and then the coldest air will be on Sunday when high temps will be in the low 20s — with wind chills around 10 to 15. The wind chills Sunday night could drop to five below zero.

Temps Monday should rebound into the upper 20s before ticking up for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

But as far as precipitation goes for Christmas Eve and Day, there could be rain or snow depending on where you live. It’s looking more likely for rain in southeastern Massachusetts, and snowfall across the interior.

A White Christmas is defined as one inch of snow depth measured on Christmas morning.

“The areas with the best shot for an inch of snow is probably interior New England,” Loconto said. “There’s a decent chance (for a White Christmas) for those interior areas, and for northeastern Massachusetts.”

Convenience stores: Open at owners’ discretion on both days.

Taverns, bars: Open at owners’ discretion on both days.

Movie theaters: Open both days.

Drug stores: Open both days.

Coffee Shops: Open at owners’ discretion both days.

Banks: Most are closed or open for limited hours both days.

Stock market: Closes at 1 p.m. ET on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day.

Municipal, state, federal offices: Open on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day.

Libraries: Open with varying hours on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day.

Schools: Closed both days.

Mail: Post offices open with varying hours on Christmas Eve. Post offices closed Christmas Day; express delivery only.

MBTA: Subways, buses, commuter rail, the RIDE, and ferry routes will operate on regular weekday schedule on Christmas Eve. Silver Line service to and from Logan Airport will be increased.

On Christmas Day, subways, buses and the RIDE will operate on a Sunday schedule. Commuter rail will operate on a weekend schedule. There will be no ferry service. For more information, visit https://www.mbta.com/holidays.

Trash/recycling collection: Collections on Christmas Eve and no collections on Christmas Day in Boston. To monitor your neighborhood’s trash and recycling schedule, download the Trash Day App at: https://www.boston.gov/trash-day-schedule.

Sources: boston.gov and mass.gov.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the time the stock market closes on Christmas Eve.

Sabrina Lam can be reached at sabrina.lam@globe.com.