The Ice Is Melting: 131 Walruses Trampled To Death

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Federal scientists say trampling during a stampede likely killed 131 walruses on the northwest shore of Alaska.

Most of the dead walruses were young animals.

A team examined 71 carcasses and performed nine detailed necropsies, which showed extensive bruising.

The walrus carcasses were spotted from the air Sept. 14 near Icy Cape on the shore of Chukchi Sea by U.S. Geological Survey researchers flying out for a walrus tagging project.

About 3,500 walruses had been reported at the site, choosing the shore as a resting area because sea ice had again melted well beyond the relatively shallow continental shelf where walruses can dive for clams and other sea bed food.

Calves and yearlings are more susceptible to trampling in stampedes.

Comments

[Harmony1812]

It is truly sad to see what is happening to our treasures in the north lands.
The fate of larger species, especially predators, is also in the hands of how we treat the smallest of creatures at the bottom of the food chain. Without the basic foundation in the food chain, the larger animals which we seem to treasure more, will be lost.

[ThomasMc]

Rumors that Sarah Palin's helicopter was seen in the area at the time have yet to be verified.

[WitsendNJ]

The ice is melting at the poles and glaciers, and meanwhile in the US, the trees are dying. We are poisoning our atmosphere by burning fossil and biofuels. They produce ozone and peroxyacetyl nitrates that are highly toxic to humans (cancer, emphysema, asthma) and all vegetation, by inhibiting their ability to photosynthesize. This has reached a critical level on the East Coast of the US, reducing the yield of annual crops and killing trees. The damage is rapidly accelerating and is already incurring huge costs. Just check with your State Dept. of Transportation or local electric utility and ask them what they're spending lately for tree removal.

Or go outside and look for the classic signs of necrosis, easily observed on any shrub, tree or plant - a loss of chlorophyll. It's only October 2, but look at all the leaves on the ground, all the trees with thin crowns, and pines with yellowing needles and ask yourself, whatever happened to fall color?

Photos at witsendnj.blogspot.com, comments welcome.

[Harmony1812]

We use so many toxins in processing everything that we are indeed poisoning the planet.
We are at a crossroads where we must decide if we want our to die from our waste.
Non native species are a tremendous problem.
I live in Florida and I shudder when they spray for mosquitoes. Tons baby fish eat their eggs. The spray leaves a petrol film on the water. Dragonflys eat mosquitoes. Purple Martins eat dragonflys and mosquitoes. If we didn't spray for the mosquitoes we would have enough fauna to eat them. We also should not be encroaching on the Everglades.

[FDRbyGodDemocrat]

The cause? General admission concert seating.

[boner]

Goo goo ga joob.

[gilesslade]

Thanks for taking the time to write and post this, Dan.

I follow many others in feeling that there's a profound change taking place in the biosphere and that pagophilic (ice-loving) species like Pacific Walruses and Polar Bears are on the cutting edge of these irreversible changes. For that reason, their well being is crucial information. But the prognosis is bad, and many people don't want to hear it.

-Who can blame them? We're in the biggest s***-hole humanity has ever faced. What we've done to our children and grand children is inexcusable and we WILL be held to account.

[gilesslade]

Dan's previous AP article about the ongoing deaths of Pacific Walruses can be found here:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iveFY1XCjWegbjcLevGSl2HtDj7wD9AP8T883

[boner]

Why does the current generation get the blame? Why not blame society's ills on our great-great-great grandparents that, through the industrial age, set the world on this irreversible course?Quite frankly, our generation is the first generation that realizes the danger to our environment and is actually doing something about it.

[Harmony1812]

The industrial age was absolutly horrible to the enviroment. It must never be repeated by greedy industrialists. This months issue of National Geographic has a very good article about what they did to the Redwood Forests.

[scottowego]

With China and India right up there with us as the biggest polluters there is plenty of trouble in the future. In fact I think we've passed the point of no return. The world we know now will soon be over.

[Checquoline]

Important compared to human suffering? Important to animal conservation? Important as proof of global warming? This is an event that has its own place in the news.

[Harmony1812]

We are also animals. When nature's balance fails. Our own species also fails.

[DubyaGump]

Sarah Palin at it again

[Harmony1812]

She's probably researching how to make soap.

[dukeitout]

Slow newsday, eh?

[cosmic ray]

Not really. Some people don't recognize the importance of certain events, until it all hits home, at which point it's usually too late.

[PharmaMan]

Bummer, this really sucks. Nothing more pitiful than the indiscriminate death of defenseless baby animals.

[BLSabob]

Well that sucks.

Why couldn't if have been 131 Birthers?

[BLSabob]

or 131 Global-Warming Deniers

131 Creationists?

[themeeg]

I know. Life is so unfair.

[d0zer209]

ARE YOU SURE IT WASNT SARAH PALIN WHO TRAMPLED THESE WALRUSES??

[devinmccurdy]

Walruses trampled? OH NO, NOW I'M CRYING!

[MarsAmbassador]

Those aren't walruses, they're Sabre-Toothed Manatees!

[LarryinMiami]

Shouldn't they be called "personatees?"

[rextrek]

while no one deserves to suffer.....I dont feel overly sorry for the people in indonesia...many of the things they could do to protect themselves - fall to the way-side over thier overt alignment with religion...also, after hearing about thier AWFUL treatment of thier fellow LGBT ctizens.

[Vieux Charles]

but, the hordes of atheists snuffed out during the soviet purges - now that's another story.

[MetalMelissa]

That's pretty vicious, dude.

[rachelva]

Wow.