Trampling blamed for Alaska walrus deaths

By Dan Joling, Associated Press ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Trampling likely killed 131 mostly young walruses on the northwest shore of Alaska, according to an examination by an investigative team that included federal scientists. Young animals can be crushed in stampedes when a herd is startled by a polar bear, human hunters or even a low-flying airplane. … The dead animals were spotted from the air by U.S. Geological Survey researchers on their way to walrus satellite radio tagging projects. They were hoping to study movement and foraging habits of walruses forced to shore by sea ice that again melted far beyond the relatively shallow outer continental shelf. Walruses cannot swim indefinitely. Many walruses, especially females with young, use sea ice as a platform most of the summer to dive for clams and other sea bottom creatures.  … “All of the necropsied animals showed similar abnormalities, primarily extensive bruising in muscles in the neck and chest,” the report said. “One animal had a fractured skull, and one animal had separation of some ribs from the backbone. Most of the animals had blood coming from the nostrils. The blood coming from the nostrils indicated damage to the neck, head, nose, or internal organs.” The extensive bruising and the age of the animals indicated cause of death likely was trampling. … “Exhaustion and separation from mothers may have also contributed to the death of some animals.”