Walrus congregations show worrisome behavior

newsminer.com • Arctic barometers:

Walrus congregations show worrisome behavior
Published Thursday, September 17, 2009

"Reports of thousands of walrus forming unusual congregations on Alaska’s North Slope appear to confirm again the environmental challenges posed by relatively low fall ice coverage within arctic water. Walrus need ice from which to dive in the relatively shallow water above the continent shelf; when it’s not there, they must come to land. With their typical foraging method disrupted, they will likely enter winter in poorer condition than is ideal."

"The news of huge on-shore walrus gatherings comes shortly after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took another step toward declaring the walrus an endangered or threatened species. The agency said last week that a petition to list the walrus presented a good case that the species could be threatened or endangered by the lack of ice. It opened public comment on the issue..."

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