35,000 walruses mass on Alaska beach 'due to climate change'

AFP ^ | October 1, 2014

[Zakeet]

At least 35,000 walruses have beached themselves on a remote Alaskan coastline in a phenomenon blamed on the melting of arctic ice due to climate change, experts said Wednesday.

Initially there had been only 1,500 of the tusked pinnipeds counted on one beach, but in recent days that number has exploded.

"Our best estimate is almost a 24-fold increase," said Megan Ferguson of the Aerial Surveys of Arctic Marine Mammals.

[DBrow]

http://www.travelalaska.com/Destinations/Parks%20and%20Public%20Lands/Walrus%20Islands%20State%20Game%20Sanctuary.aspx

Alaska tourism includes seeing walrus haul-outs. The travel blurb mentions 14,000 walri, so 2 or 3 times that number is within the realm of possibility.

[muir_redwoods]

Maybe it was just the Emily’s List meeting or tryouts for The View

[Ge0ffrey]

coo coo ca choo

[DBrow]

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22260892/ns/us_news-environment/t/walruses-die-stampedes-tied-climate/

[isthisnickcool]

They are horny.

Is this why all the wetbacks are migrating? Climate change?

[DBrow]

Much more ice now than in 2012:

http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/

[Nailbiter]

The walruses are protesting.

The walrus’ are planning to take over the world.

Quick while the humans are distracted by the (name your disaster),

[sima_yi]

...blamed on the melting of arctic ice...

If I remember correctly, Arctic ice has been growing, not melting, over the past couple of years.

[MrB]

I have a libinlaw that absolutely refuses to believe or hear that polar ice is growing,

and she won’t even read the sources I provide proving it.

It’s a religion.

[moovova]

“...enact a strict walrus sterilization program to save them...”

That’s kind of harsh. Wouldn’t free birth control be cheaper?

[MV=PY]

Party on!

[NorthMountain]

I am the eggman,
They are the eggman,
I am the walrus.

[Cold Heat]

Yeah...that would be a problem if the Arctic Ice was indeed melting....lol

[Rodamala]

This is a real bad problem because walruses can't swim ...

Oh my!

[minnesota_bound]

Look at all the land that is empty around them that they are not using. I say they are gathered together for warmth and protection. I saw a show where a polar bear swam over to a large group of walruses and tried to eat one without being intimidated much by the others. The walrus saved himself by going into the ocean.

[DeWalt]

“Is this why all the wetbacks are migrating? Climate change?”

Yes, they are running away from the equater.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Ferguson noted that more brown bears than previously estimated were also spotted on the same stretch of coastline

Walruses are ugly and brown bears are cute so this is a good thing.

[mykroar]

Are we sure they’re walruses and not just climate marchers?

[Vigilanteman]

Sort of like how beaches are inundated with tourists during Labor Day weekend, eh?

[Iron Munro]

Walruses don’t have pick up bars where they can hook up so they have to mingle on rocky beaches.