Walruses opt for shores over ice

[The Straight Story]

Walruses opt for shores over ice

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Large herds of Pacific walrus have begun gathering on the northwest coast of Alaska, again forsaking sea ice for sand in what has become a symbol of climate warming in the region.

A contractor taking part in federal marine mammal aerial surveys over the Chukchi Sea spotted about 5,000 walruses Wednesday on a beach north of Point Lay. A second herd of 3,000 walruses rested a short distance away.

In winter, Pacific walruses are found at the edge of sea ice in the Bering Sea. Older males remain in the Bering Sea for the summer, but mothers and their young ride the edge of sea ice as it melts north through the Bering Strait and into the Chukchi Sea.

Female walruses and their young have come ashore during late summer and fall in four of the last five years on Alaska's northwest coast. The phenomenon began after sea ice melted far beyond the relatively shallow continental shelf to waters of the deep Arctic Basin.

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110821/GREEN/108210324/Walruses-opt-shores-over-ice?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

[SoCalDem]

1. Just doing what it takes to survive ..n/t

[Bozita]

2. Just wonderin' whether Gulfcoast residents have spotted any of BP's walruses lately

[csziggy]

4. Doesn't Rush have a ocean front house?

And Karl Rove has a Gulf view house. That's probably who BP was intending to protect.

[jwirr]

3. Good they are going to adapt. I wish the polar bears would follow. nt