WUWT readers may recall this story from last month:
Climate Alarmists rush to judgment on dead walruses, ignore other possibilities
The issue has been settled. No mention of climate change or global warming.
From a joint press release at http://alaska.fws.gov/index_walrus.pdf (h/t to Robert E. Phelan)
Trampling Likely Cause of Icy Cape Walrus Deaths
Trampling by other walruses was the most likely cause of death of 131 walruses carcasses found on the shore near Icy Cape, Alaska, according to an investigative team. The carcasses, the majority of which were young animals, were discovered along the beach above the high-tide line on Sept. 14 by a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) survey crew in the area.
In response to the discovery, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service put together a team comprised of representatives from USFWS, USGS, the Alaska SeaLife Center and the North Slope Borough to determine the extent and cause of the die-off. The National Marine Fisheries Service provided additional financial and technical support, with hunters from Barrow and Wainwright also assisting in the investigation.
An aerial survey of the Chukchi Sea coast conducted by USFWS and NSB confirmed the die-off was localized to the Icy Cape region.
To determine the cause of death, a smaller team mobilized to examine as many carcasses as possible and conduct necropsies – animal autopsies. Veterinarians and biologists from ASLC, USGS and NSB deployed to the area, with hunters from Wainwright and Barrow to ensure their safety. The six-member team examined 71 carcasses and performed nine detailed necropsies.
Because the necropsies showed extensive bruising and all of the carcasses were calves or yearlings, the investigative team concluded that the cause of death was consistent with trampling by other walruses.
Trampling-related injuries and mortalities are not uncommon at coastal walrus haulouts. The potential for injuries and mortalities appears greatest in large herds of animals with a mix of walruses of different age and sex. Young animals appear to be more susceptible to trampling than older animals.
The cause of the disturbance or disturbances leading to the trampling deaths is unknown. Investigators found no evidence of hunting or other recent human activities near the carcasses. Photographs and additional information are available from Bruce Woods at the number above
@jeez, gosh that’s a lot of walri!
/duck
Back2Bat (12:38:06) :
“… On the other hand, cold has no downside….” uh, I gotta suspect you’re Australian. Or a hardcore winter-sports enthusiast.
“uh, I gotta suspect you’re Australian. Or a hardcore winter-sports enthusiast.” Robert
Nope. I have just lived in Tucson too long!
With springtime hope
I face the fall.
Nay, much more than that,
I’d rather face winter’s embrace
than broil in my own fat.
One downside to cold would be having to deal with a mile of glacier above your head. I imagine land values in Canada the the Northern portion of the USA would take a bit of a hit unless you owned a nuclear powered snowblower.
Can’t we find a way to blame man for the trampling? Maybe we scared them and caused the trampling. Or better yet, make a case for lack of habitat(caused by man and somehow link to burning of fossil fuels) that forced the Walrus’ to trample at that particular spot.
Back2Bat (13:57:55) :
Hey, I hitch-hiked through Arizona once. Best air I ever breathed was in Flagstaff…
Back2Bat (12:38:06) :
Obviously you haven’t been paying attention. The Maunder minimum caused massive deaths from starvation and disease. So did the little ice age at the end of the 18th century. Cold is much worse. Ask the vikings in Greenland. Oh yeah, they all died off from the change from a warm climate to a cold one.
“Obviously you haven’t been paying attention.” BarryW
I thought my clues that I was speaking facetiously were adequate, particularly the transition word “Seriously” which would indicate to some that the preceding remarks were not serious.
Robert,
The winters in Arizona are sublime but the summers, except at altitude, such as Flagstaff, are brutal.
The discussion so far:
They were scared by a shrubbery!
We don’t know.
Global warming caused them to go on the beach.
Global warming scared them.
The bad guys did it.
Prove it ain’t so!
Darned tourists.
“One downside to cold would be having to deal with a mile of glacier above your head.” William
Think of the additional stories above your house that you could carve, 520 per mile.
Phil? Oh Phil, where are you now?
In the original posting you were all over the comments, making unreasonable assertions based upon the low resolution photograph and your AGW biases. You lectured other commenters as if they were students of yours in high school. Among other unsupportable assertions, you stated that the last tide had washed away evidence, and I pointed out to you at the time that the carcasses all appeared to be above the high tide line, and the team who went on site confirms out my observation.
What say you now Phil? Phil? (…………Is that a cricket I hear?)
Dan Murphy
Yes but the reason why those were fighting each other was for who get’s to sit on one of the last icebergs. You don’t believe me ask Goracle!
That’s consistent with the Global Warming Models.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
“The time has come,” the Walrus said,
“To talk of many things:
Of shoes–and ships–and sealing-wax–
Of cabbages–and kings–
And why the sea is boiling hot–
And whether pigs have wings.”
“But wait a bit,” the Oysters cried,
“Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!”
“No hurry!” said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
“A loaf of bread,” the Walrus said,
“Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed–
Now if you’re ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed.”
“But not on us!” the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
“After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!”
“The night is fine,” the Walrus said.
“Do you admire the view?
Fred C (11:13:39) : Who funds these groups anyway? Where does all the money come from?
You may wish to read this article, Fred:
http://www.capitalpress.info/content/ml-enviro-lawsuits-101609
The real questions to ask of Environmental Groups are: What percentage of your income is not spent on your bloated staff and what do you do with it?
“Irish filmmaker Phelim McAleer couldn’t get Hollywood interested in his conservative answer to Al Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth,” so he’s trying to promote it a different way — by getting tea party protesters to turn out for thousands of screenings across the country Sunday night.”
Filmmaker gets Tea Party protesters to screen his film
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/10/filmmaker-gets-tea-party-protesters-screen-his-film
Back2Bat (14:49:10) :
“One downside to cold would be having to deal with a mile of glacier above your head.” William
Think of the additional stories above your house that you could carve, 520 per mile.
The problem with the additional 520 stories per mile would be that were moving at different speeds, with lower layers move slower.
They were probably spooked by “environmentalists” on sight seeing helicopter tours.
A record federal deficit and we’re paying people to examine walrus carcasses.
Missing tusks, might be a clue.
Stream of Conscience: Not Evil Just Wrong to Stream Live, for Free, Over Internet This Sunday
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS172412+16-Oct-2009+PRN20091016
“A record federal deficit and we’re paying people to examine walrus carcasses.” Nathan Stone
Stimulus, my man! You would never make a good Keynesian. Ya see, the government’s job is to prop up aggregate demand when the private sector gets spooked by “animal spirits” and tries to save (“hoard”) its money.
@Back2Bat No downside? Then you come out here and help me fix my pellet insert. Its [snip] freezing in Boston and we have had snow already in MA.