Stranded walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)

Observation by Anahma Shannon:

Chris and I were flying down to Safety Sound by Solomon the night before solstice and about a mile from Tommy Johnson's Camp, we saw what appeared to be a stranded walrus. We landed the plane on the beach and walked over to the lagoon side to see the animal from a safe distance. Its face was down in the mud and it was laboring to breathe. Its body condition was wasted and we could see its ribs. It was having trouble keeping its head up out of the mud. We took photos and submitted them to Fish and Game. We were hoping some samples would be taken but when Fish and Game tried to respond they couldn’t find the animal and observed tracks going back out to the waterway.

LEO Network comment:

This observation has been shared with Kawerak Inc, the UAF Marine Advisory Program, USFWS, NOAA Fisheries, and Norton Sound Health Corporation.