Have you ever lain awake at night wondering why walruses have tusks? If so, the answer is at hand. They use them lift themselves out of the water on to a floating piece of sea ice so that they can rest. Unlike seals that can remain afloat for indefinite periods, they need a place to crash. Most people except possibly those in deep dish climate denial are aware that the Arctic sea ice is in a serious state of decline. Its absence is creating an ecological crisis for walruses.
US reroutes flights around Alaska beach in attempt to avoid walrus stampede An estimated 35,000 of the animals were spotted as summer sea ice fell to its sixth lowest in the satellite record
The plight of thousands of walruses forced to crowd on to an Alaska beach because of disappearing sea ice has set off an all-out response from the US government to avoid a catastrophic stampede.
The Federal Aviation Authority has re-routed flights, and local communities have called on bush pilots to keep their distance in an effort to avoid setting off a panic that could see scores of walruses trampled to death, federal government scientists told reporters.
Curiosity seekers and the media have also been asked to stay away.
An estimated 35,000 walruses were spotted on the barrier island in north-western Alaska on 27 September by scientists on an aerial survey flight.
The biggest immediate risk factor for the walruses now is a stampede – especially for baby walruses – but they have been facing a growing threat from climate change, the scientists said.
They need to stay close to relatively shallow water so that they can feed near the ocean floor. Finding sea ice further out would cut them off from their food sources. Until 2007 it was very rare to see walruses coming onto land.
Here is a link to a series of photos of the mass migration. They are not accustomed to being so closely packed together and the situation is creating unsafe conditions for the young.