Walruses

Federal Marine Mammals Commission begins Anchorage meeting

The federal Marine Mammal Commission began four days of meetings today in Anchorage.

Alaska walruses changing behavior due to warmer seas

Scientists have unveiled new video documentation of what they say is another stunning effect of the world's steadily warming oceans: the unusual haul-out of as many as 20,000 walruses off the coast of Alaska.

More about Alaska walrus

State seeks to quantify cost of endangered species restrictions

The state of Alaska is soliciting proposals for a $350,000 analysis of the economic costs of Endangered Species Act listings. According to the solicitation, the economic impacts are "substantial," but the state wants a more accurate estimate.

Walrus herds gather on Alaska's northwest shore

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.

Retreating sea ice blamed for crowded shores

MONDAY, AUGUST 15

Walruses again headed toward shore in Northwest Alaska

Retreating sea ice this summer is again forcing walruses to haul out onshore in Northwest Alaska, say researchers who continue to worry that this increasing behavior will lead to more stampede deaths among young animals that are crushed by adults. Live Science reports that U.S. Geological Survey scientists radio-tagged 40 walruses in the Chukchi Sea this summer. Some are already ashore in Alaska, weeks earlier than in previous years. Continued on jump

CRIME BLOG

Two charged with killing walrus in Round Island sanctuary

Two Togiak men face a series of charges -- from shooting federally protected walrus in a state santuary to wasting game to drunken driving -- after witnesses caught them on film earlier this month, troopers say.

3 charged in scheme to sell walrus tusks, bear hides

A Glennallen couple is accused of illegally trading cigarettes, guns, snowmachines and other goods for walrus tusks and polar bear hides during visits to an Alaska Native village over the past year.

Environmental group plans lawsuit to protect walrus

An environmental group has given formal notice that it will sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list Pacific walrus as a threatened or endangered species.

US acknowledges danger to walrus but delays protection

Pacific walrus need additional protection from the threat of climate warming but cannot be added to the threatened or endangered list because other species are a higher priority, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Tuesday.

Alaska gets more time to work against federal ice seal listing

Decision on walrus endangered status waits for publication date

A spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the agency is waiting for a publication date from the Federal Register before announcing whether it will recommend listing the Pacific walrus as a threatened or endangered species because of global warming.

More walrus stories

Decision coming soon on federal listing for walrus

A spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the agency is waiting for a publication date from the Federal Register before announcing whether it will recommend listing the Pacific walrus as a threatened or endangered species because of global warming.

Commission recommends protection listing for walrus

The federal Marine Mammal Commission has recommended that Pacific walrus be listed as threatened or endangered, citing threats to the marine mammals from the loss of sea ice they rely on for foraging and giving birth.

More about walruses

Arctic warming accelerates in 2010, scientists report

The temperature is rising again in the Arctic, with the sea ice extent dropping to one of the lowest levels on record, climate scientists reported last week.

Retreating sea ice blamed for crowded shores

It's the third time in four years that herds of walruses have been spotted on northwest Alaska shores. In that time, the Point Lay haul-out appears to be the largest -- a writhing, groaning example of a phenomenon scientists blame on rising temperatures and melting sea ice.

Video: Thousands of walrus hauled out at Point Lay

Melting sea ice forces walruses onto Northwest Alaska beaches

Tens of thousands of walruses have again come ashore in Northwest Alaska because the sea ice they normally rest on has melted. It also happened in 2007 and 2009, years when Arctic sea ice also was at or near record low levels.

Thousands of walrus haul out onshore as Arctic ice retreats

Thousands of walrus are congregating on Alaska's northwest coast, a sign that their Arctic sea ice environment has been altered by climate change.

Pacific walrus closer to gaining federal protections

More walrus stories

Pacific walrus closer to gaining federal protections

A second Arctic marine mammal moved closer to an Endangered Species listing due to global warming Tuesday as a petition to grant the Pacific walrus protection passed its first review.

Early walrus count results alarm conservation group

Agency accepts deadline to review walrus status

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has agreed to make an initial determination within four months on whether the Pacific walrus merits additional protections under the Endangered Species Act.

More walrus stories

Conservation group sues to protect walrus

A conservation group went to court Wednesday to force the federal government to consider adding the Pacific walrus to the list of threatened species.

Walruses flee shrinking ice for shoreline

Group will sue to list walrus as threatened

A conservation group gave notice Tuesday that it will sue to force federal action on a petition to list the Pacific walrus as a threatened species because of threats from global warming and offshore petroleum development.

Walruses lured to their deaths

Federal wildlife biologists have erected a 250-foot-long fence to stop walruses from accidentally plummeting off cliffs to their death on a Bristol Bay beach.

Infant walrus washes ashore near Kivalina

The baby walrus huddled in the hot sun on the Chukchi Sea beach outside Kivalina on Monday afternoon, whining and barking as villagers caressed the dog-sized creature and fed it store milk.

Walruses flee shrinking ice for shoreline

Thousands of walruses since late summer have congregated in haulouts on Alaska's northwest shore, a phenomenon likely connected to record low Arctic sea ice.