Walruses Swarm Beaches as Ice Melts | National Geographic

extreme ice melting led to thousands of

extreme ice melting led to thousands of walruses making an unusual gathering on

walruses making an unusual gathering on

walruses making an unusual gathering on a barrier island in Alaska biologist

a barrier island in Alaska biologist

a barrier island in Alaska biologist with the United States Geological Survey

with the United States Geological Survey

with the United States Geological Survey say the situation can be very dangerous

say the situation can be very dangerous

say the situation can be very dangerous because walruses are easily startled and

because walruses are easily startled and

because walruses are easily startled and can stampede some walruses particularly

can stampede some walruses particularly

can stampede some walruses particularly calves and juveniles can get crushed to

calves and juveniles can get crushed to

calves and juveniles can get crushed to death by larger walruses moving about

this aerial video recorded for the USGS

this aerial video recorded for the USGS was taken from an altitude of 4,000 feet

was taken from an altitude of 4,000 feet

was taken from an altitude of 4,000 feet near Point lay Alaska because aircraft

near Point lay Alaska because aircraft

near Point lay Alaska because aircraft could prompt a stampede there’s a no-fly

could prompt a stampede there’s a no-fly

could prompt a stampede there’s a no-fly zone the US Fish and Wildlife Service

zone the US Fish and Wildlife Service

zone the US Fish and Wildlife Service asks aircraft to maintain a lateral

asks aircraft to maintain a lateral

asks aircraft to maintain a lateral distance of a half mile and a minimum

distance of a half mile and a minimum

distance of a half mile and a minimum altitude of 1500 feet walruses forage on

altitude of 1500 feet walruses forage on

altitude of 1500 feet walruses forage on the sea floor and usually use sea ice as

the sea floor and usually use sea ice as

the sea floor and usually use sea ice as a resting platform between feedings this

a resting platform between feedings this

a resting platform between feedings this is the first time tens of thousands of

is the first time tens of thousands of

is the first time tens of thousands of walruses have been seen crowded together

walruses have been seen crowded together

walruses have been seen crowded together here though similar sightings have been

here though similar sightings have been

here though similar sightings have been recorded in Russia and another area of

recorded in Russia and another area of

recorded in Russia and another area of northwestern Alaska in years past the

northwestern Alaska in years past the

northwestern Alaska in years past the WWF says Arctic sea ice is at the third

WWF says Arctic sea ice is at the third

WWF says Arctic sea ice is at the third lowest level in recorded history

lowest level in recorded history

lowest level in recorded history USGS is conducting more research to

USGS is conducting more research to

USGS is conducting more research to better understand the effects of the

better understand the effects of the

better understand the effects of the walrus haul out and other changes

walrus haul out and other changes

walrus haul out and other changes related to climate change and sea ice

related to climate change and sea ice

related to climate change and sea ice melt