Background Articles

A new report reveals a rise in polar bears on land and dangerous travel conditions in Northwest Alaska due to climate change.

The report reveals an unusual increase in polar bear presence on land in Northwest Alaska due to declining sea ice, posing challenges for human-bear interactions and travel safety, while warming temperatures and shifting seasons complicate traditional travel and hunting practices.

More reports are emerging around the world of the virus in mammals, including species found in the Arctic. Officials say there's no evidence suggesting transmission from eating infected animals which are cooked - but country food is often eaten raw.

A dead fin whale washed up near downtown Anchorage, attracting hundreds of onlookers while scientists study it to learn more about the whale's life and death.

Chukchi Sea polar bears show increased exposure to pathogens like canine distemper virus and Toxoplasma gondii, potentially due to changes in their diet and extended time on land.

In 2023, tularemia occurred in a wildlife volunteer after exposure to a deceased, infected harbor seal, the first known report of tularemia acquired through contact with a marine mammal, and the first detection of F. tularensis in a marine mammal.

Unusually large amounts of sea ice have brought more polar bears from Northeast to South Greenland, with many unable to return due to currents.

These worms, present in halibut, cod, salmon and other saltwater fish, are increasing. If the worms are well frozen or cooked, they don’t pose a health threat.

This summer, NOAA and the International Whaling Commission will conduct aerial and ship-based surveys in the eastern Bering Sea to monitor beluga and large baleen whale populations, employing new methods and expanding survey areas based on previous findings.

Japan plans to expand its commercial whaling to include fin whales, five years after resuming whaling and leaving the IWC.

A right-wing leader advocates for increased whale hunting and international marketing of whale meat, despite global regulations and declining participation in the industry.

The article discusses concerns over the impact of human-made noise on endangered Cook Inlet belugas and the debate over noise mitigation measures.

Scientists are investigating the widespread presence of paralytic shellfish toxins in Alaska's marine food chain, which may explain recent species die-offs.

“It’s a reflection of the plastic age we live in," said student researcher Tony Blade. "It’s ubiquitous."

A study by the Alaska Environment Research and Policy Center found microplastics in all water samples from Southcentral Alaska, indicating widespread contamination.

The new children's book combines traditional knowledge and scientific research to tell the story of a ringed seal pup in Kotzebue, Alaska, with a focus on the impact of climate change.