Melting sea ice forces walruses ashore in Alaska

AP/Yahoo ^ | Mon Sep 13, 2010 | Seth Borenstein

[Abathar]

WASHINGTON – Tens of thousands of walruses have come ashore in northwest Alaska because the sea ice they normally rest on has melted.

Federal scientists say this massive move to shore by walruses is unusual in the United States. But it has happened at least twice before, in 2007 and 2009. In those years Arctic sea ice also was at or near record low levels.

The population of walruses stretches "for one mile or more. This is just packed shoulder-to-shoulder," U.S. Geological Survey biologist Anthony Fischbach said in a telephone interview from Alaska. He estimated their number at tens of thousands.

[Abathar]

The federal government is in a year-long process to determine if walruses should be put on the endangered species list.

The money quote here. These stupid things have been on those beaches forever this time of year, this is just polar bear lite ver. 2.0 offshore oil drilling ban.

[rahbert]

How do they know that? Did they conduct interviews of the beasts?

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

[pnh102]

Clearly this is the work of Darth Palin and her minions.

[gundog]

Seems like late summer is always tough on ice.

[ClearCase_guy]

Give it a few months and this “problem” will correct itself.

[faucetman]

So what? Unless you own ocean front property in Northwest Alaska

[Cheetahcat]

I am the walrus, goo goo goo joob

[television is just wrong]

SO? the ice is melting in the north it is growing in the south. ship them south.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Coldest Arctic summer in more than
half a century

Perhaps much longer

http://www.iceagenow.com/Coldest_Arctic_Summer_in_more_than_half_a_century.htm

[Puppage]

Tens of thousands of walruses have come ashore in northwest Alaska because the sea ice they normally rest on has melted.

Yeah, because there's NEVER been a walrus ashore before.

[steelyourfaith]

Thanx Army Air Corps !

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[bmwcyle]

[glorgau]

Thank God! This will save the Polar Bears threatened by global warming.

Polar Bears vs Walrus

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

John, Paul, George, and Roscoe?

[JRios1968]

Tens of thousands of walruses have come ashore in northwest Alaska because the sea ice they normally rest on has melted.

Have these egghead scientists considered that maybe the walruses (walri??) are looking for their buckets?

[VRWCmember]

Federal scientists say this massive move to shore by walruses is unusual in the United States. But it has happened at least twice before, in 2007 and 2009.

It is highly unusual, but it happened twice in the last three years and it happened again this year.

[Cheetahcat]

Thank God! This will save the Polar Bears threatened by global warming.

Polar Bears vs Walrus

Hey thanks for the link.

[Pessimist]

” “for one mile or more. This is just packed shoulder-to-shoulder,” ... He estimated their number at tens of thousands.”

“Fischbach said scientists don’t know how long the walrus camp-out will last, but there should be enough food for all of them.”

Yeah. The really sound “endangered” to me...