ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Federal wildlife officials have declined the suggestion of a wildlife advocacy group to place experimental rafts off Alaska’s northwest coast as a resting place for walrus.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regional director Geoffrey Haskett says the agency is studying Pacific walrus coming to shore in huge numbers along the Chukchi (chuk-CHEE’) Sea because of shrinking sea ice.
But he says the matter for now is best addressed by keeping walrus undisturbed while scientists analyze whether gathering on shore is causing animals to use excessive energy for foraging.
Sea ice has diminished because of climate warming. An estimated 35,000 walrus were photographed Sept. 2 near Point Lay.
Haskett’s comments were in a letter to Oasis Earth. The group asked the agency to consider experimental rafts over walrus feeding habitat 100 miles off the coast.
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