By DAN JOLING
Federal marine mammal experts in Alaska studying the effects of global warming on walrus, polar bears and ice seals warn there are limit to the protections they can provide
They can restrict hunters, ship traffic and offshore petroleum activity, but that may not be enough if the animals' basic habitat
"Ultimately it's beyond my scope," said Joel Garlich-Miller, a walrus expert for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Anchorage
3,000 to 4,000 mostly young walrus died this year in stampedes on land on the Russian side of the Chukchi
summer spread over sea ice, thousands of walruses were stranded on land in unprecedented numbers for up to three months
the loss of 3,000 to 4,000 animals this year from mostly one demographic could be disastrous
If current ice trends continue, and walrus have to stay on coastlines every summer, they may put too much pressure on nearby foraging areas instead of feeding in the rich waters offshore
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