Walruses Haul Out on Alaska Beach
An Environmental Article from All-Creatures.org

From

Center for Biological Diversity
October 2014

Climate change, which is driving sea-ice loss in the Arctic, is a major long-term threat to the survival of the Pacific walrus, among other irreplaceable northern species.

Dwindling sea ice has forced the largest walrus crowd seen so far onto Alaska's beaches, where it hauled out near Point Lay, in the state's northwest, and was photographed last week.

Image from MarineBio.net

Sea ice serves as a floating platform, delivering walruses to rich feeding grounds and providing a place for them to rest between feeding, so when that ice disappears, walruses -- especially females and their calves -- have no choice but to flock to overcrowded beaches, where food is less plentiful and the risks to their survival (such as trampling and predation by bears) are far higher.

Climate change, which is driving sea-ice loss in the Arctic, is a major long-term threat to the survival of the Pacific walrus, among other irreplaceable northern species.

The Center has been fighting for walruses since 2007, when we first filed a lawsuit over the federal government's failure to update stock assessments for these and other marine mammals.

---

Return to Environmental Articles