Declining Numbers or Condition of Walrus

William Takak of Shaktoolik noted, "The migration of the beluga and walrus has seemed to change. Take the example of lemmings; when there are too many, they go to different areas to feed. One year in Norton Bay the walrus did that. We were out hunting and couldn't see the land yet, but the horizon was reddish. There were thousands of walrus near the shore. When we opened the belly of one, we even found rocks in there. The walrus migrated toward land. Maybe they ran out of things to eat."

Lydia Robards of Port Graham asks, "You think it is the warm climate that is causing the fat to not preserve (in seal and walrus)?"

Molly Chythlook of Dillingham reported, "When you process any sea mammals, even walrus, just by working the meat with the fat, it automatically coats the meat with the blubber. You used to be able to keep the meat in freezers for what seemed like forever. Now the fat doesn't protect stored meats like that. I've gotten walrus skins and I purposely rubbed the whole skin before I put it in the freezer, but within 6 months the skin is rancid. You can see the yellow."

Please go to the next step, possible causes of these concerns.