Wildlife

Die-offs of common murres have been happening across Alaska since this summer. The latest report comes from Kachemak Bay, according to biologists with the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge in Homer.

Last Friday evening a bearded seal made its way out of Nome’s iced-in port and up into the west side of town. The seal spent the night at Nome’s Public Safety Building and after observing its behavior, it was clear what to do next.

A bearded seal came ashore Thursday night and made its way into a parking lot on Nome’s west side of town.

Wolf hunting on Prince of Wales was hotly debated this year after the state released a study that said the population was only 89. The previous year’s estimate was 221.

“People stayed at the table and worked through, compromised, and really did a commendable job of handling a very difficult topic,” says Les Cronk, a committee co-chair and a timber industry representative.

Humans and sea otters enjoy consuming the same bottom-dwelling seafood: Dungeness crabs, clams, sea cucumbers and urchins. In some areas these creatures have completely disappeared.