Mineral Creek
Time: 12:30 to 3:30
Date: Wednesday June 03, 2009
Place: Mineral Creek
Temperature: 60’s
Climate: Mostly sunny, some clouds with a light breeze
Plants seen on the trip:
Crowberries
Bush Cranberries
Bog Blueberries
Nagoonberries
Low Bush Cranberries
Dogwood Berries
Alaska Violet
Bog Rosemary
Corn Lilly
Chocolate Lilly
Red Alder
Canadian Dwarf Coronel
Fireweed
Willow Trees
Muskeg
Wild Iris
Geranium
Club Rush
High Bush berries
False Lilly of the Valley
Green Fake Hellebore
Peat Moss
Narcissus Flowered Anemone
Western Butter Cup
Sundew
Tufted Club rush
Cotton Grass
Insects and animals seen on the trip:
Moth
Bee
Spiders Lots of Mosquitoes
Flies
Robin
Magpie
Vole
Duck
Bird Tracks
Well I would have to say it was kind of fun. I don’t know much about what we seen or even where we were. I never did think that I would be sitting on the ground in a bog on a bunch of moss. I would have to say that was a first for me. And I’m sure there will be many times I will say that.
It was a very beautiful day to be out doors looking around at all the different things. I think that a lot of the plants and flowers we seen today was very beautiful I guess I never realized all the different things that was have living all around us.
I found the trip to be very educational an a very interesting experience, it was a wonderful day to be out an about. I also love that we found so many diff rent types of plants an wild flowers in one place..
i hope all the trips were this fun, but next time I'm going to wear more comfy clothing an bring more water... i really liked the feeling of the moss an the mud too ha ha...
i like sunk in the mud it was funny i thought i was going to fall but i loved it
Posted by fairchild,Amber
Today was a beautiful day to be out exploring. I had a lot of fun identifying the plants. The amount of life in the bog is fascinating. What bothered me was seeing trash left behind & tire tracks. Some people are so careless & stupid. I honestly don't understand how driving through a bog could be entertaining. Also how hard is it to dispose of trash properly?
I just looked up canine tracks & don't think we saw coyote tracks, unless it was a large coyote. I think it was a large dog, possibly wolf but I'm not sure if we have any wolves in the area.
The bird tracks may have been magpie, but I'm not sure. There was a magpie "hopping" around; there was also a robin.
I do wish we could have done more walking & spent more time looking around. I really enjoyed this field trip.
Posted by Michelle
All in all I think that we all enjoyed this trip. We all found some really plants and all had a really good time. Who ever would have though that we all would have fun and learn some things at the same time.
Worthington Glacier and Thompson Pass
Time: 1:00 to 4:00
Date: Wednesday June 2, 2009
Place: Worthington Glacier and Thompson Pass
Temperature: 40’s
Climate: Partly sunny, some clouds with a light breeze
Plants seen on the trip:
Crowberries
Blueberries
Chocolate Lilly
Alder
Fireweed
Willow Trees
Coastal Yellow Paintbrush
Golden Crown Sparrow
Snow Potential
Mount Avers
Lichen’s
Mountain Hair bell
Yellow Spotted Saxifrage
Mountain Heather
Glaucous Gentian
River Beauty
Pussy Toes
Moss Campion
Lessing’s Arnica
Wooly Lousewort
Alp Lilly
Bear berries
Labrador Tea
Narcissus Flowered Anemone
Purple Shooting Star
Arctic Bluegrass
Spike Trisetum
Insects and animals seen on the trip:
Bee
Spiders Lots of Mosquitoes
Flies
Lady Bug
Birds
Ground Squirrel
I couldn't believe that the glacier was so big an yet it was so small.
I enjoyed the hike to the glacier an the waking around.
I was surprised at how much plant life was at the glacier, an how Even thought there is new life it was so beautiful.
Posted by fairchild,Amber
It was beautiful day to go up to Worthington glacier & the pass. Our first stop was at Worthington Glacier. I was surprised by the number of seagulls around the area. There is a glacial lake, giving them a water source. Seagulls are also opportunistic when it comes to food, meaning that they will eat anything they find. There were tourist there & I'm sure the Seagulls were waiting for them to drop food or leave the dumpster open... The most surprising thing, for me was seeing how much the glacier has receded since the last time I was there. We walked toward the glacier to get a better look. There are a lot of cool rocks that have been deposited by the glacier. The rock is called schist & has a layered/flaky look. On our way back from the glacier, we spotted some grasses next to the alders & willows. I thought one grass was Alaskan Bentgrass, but did some research when I got home & I'm pretty sure it was actually Spike Trisetum. The other grass I was unable to identify is Artic Bluegrass. I reasearched it when I got home as well. As we were stopping along the pass an arctic ground squirrel ran in front of the car. Luckily we did not harm the squirrel. We also saw a Golden Crown Sparrow. Thompson pass is so beautiful, words can't describe how amazing the veiw is. We were at about 2678ft, so it was cool & windy. We identified three types of berries. There are some interesting lichen that live there as well. One of the lichens is black & looks like hair. There is an interesting varity of plant life on the pass. I'd have to say the berrries are my favorite & I'm looking foward to going berry picking, when they ripen.
Posted by Michelle
I think we all really liked this trip, because we got to walk on the glacier and that wa pretty cool. We all had fun and had a pretty good time all of seeing and finding all kinds of differnt things.
Boat Trip and Gold Creek Beach
Time: 10:40 to 1:30
Date: Monday July 20, 2009
Place:Boat Trip and Gold Creek Beach
Temperature: 50’s
Climate: Raining, very foggy, and very cold
Plants and animals seen on the trip:
Humpback Shrimp
Two Spot Shrimp
Irish Lords
Sea Lions
Seagulls
Blue Muscles
Fireweed
Clam Shells
Rock weed
Butter Clam
Wild Celery
False Pacific Jingle Shell
Artit Turn Feather
Musk Limpet
Lewis Moon
Salmon Telling
Beach Groundsel
Sea Otters
Beach Grass
Crab Leg
Clam
Tube Worm Shell
Limpets
I think this trip was the best one, yes I was a little scared at first but we all made alive. It was really cool to see the sea lions, and sea otters I have never seen anything like that before.Seeing that was the part that I liked the most, the next part would have to be when he span us around on the boat when we were standing on the very front part of it. Thank you for the trips it was fun and I would go on a boat again sometime I really did enjoy myself out there.
The boat we took was a trashy looking work boat. I was not impressed when the guy taking us out refused to let us wear life jackets. I also did not like it when he decided to play a prank & act like he was leaving us on the beach. That was not funny at all.The best part of this trip was watching the sea lions on a buoy. We also saw sea otters. They have the cutest little faces. With the exception of the guy who took us out, this was a good trip.
Posted by Michelle
Now Michelle and I both really liked this trip the best I think...well I know I did. It was really fun being on the boat and seeing the is out there in all that water. Seeing the sea lions and sea otters that was the first time we have ever seen anything like that before. I wish that we could have done more trips like that one.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Wagon Road trail summary.
7/1/09 12:30pm-3:30pm
Partly cloudy, 65 degrees & breezy.
Animals:
Moose Tracks & Scat
Bear markings on tree.
Bear Scat
Douglas Squirrel
Humans left sunglasses & a dryer sheet.
Mosquito
Fly
Moth
Lady Beetle
Tundra swans along the road.
Birds chirping.
Plants:
Northern Yarrow
Mountain Hairbell
Alder
Willow
Cottonwood
Devils Club
Pink Pyrola Wintergreen
Dogwood
Sitka Spruce
Lady Fern
Blueberry
Salmonberry
Broom Rate Ground Comb
Alpine Heuchera
Ostrage Fern
Stinging Nettle
Large Leaf Avens
Fire Weed
Meadow Rue
Horse Tail
Goats Beard
Wild Geranium
Monks Hood
Columbine
Sitka Burnet
Lichen
Baneberry
Watermelonberry
The wagon road was originally a pack trail that became part of Richardson Highway. Today it's a beautiful hiking trail. As we were walking through the first part of the trail we noticed a large d Sitka Spruce that dies and took the trees surrounding it down, when it fell. We walked over the trees & up a steep, narrow incline; it was nice & flat at the top.One of the fascinating things about the trees is they appear dead except for the tops of the tree. This is because there is very little light at the lower part of the woods. Many other plants flourish with only a small amount of light. We had a nice long hike along the beautiful & peaceful trail. This was an awesome trip because we got to see so many plants and signs of wildlife.
Partly cloudy, 65 degrees & breezy.
Animals:
Moose Tracks & Scat
Bear markings on tree.
Bear Scat
Douglas Squirrel
Humans left sunglasses & a dryer sheet.
Mosquito
Fly
Moth
Lady Beetle
Tundra swans along the road.
Birds chirping.
Plants:
Northern Yarrow
Mountain Hairbell
Alder
Willow
Cottonwood
Devils Club
Pink Pyrola Wintergreen
Dogwood
Sitka Spruce
Lady Fern
Blueberry
Salmonberry
Broom Rate Ground Comb
Alpine Heuchera
Ostrage Fern
Stinging Nettle
Large Leaf Avens
Fire Weed
Meadow Rue
Horse Tail
Goats Beard
Wild Geranium
Monks Hood
Columbine
Sitka Burnet
Lichen
Baneberry
Watermelonberry
The wagon road was originally a pack trail that became part of Richardson Highway. Today it's a beautiful hiking trail. As we were walking through the first part of the trail we noticed a large d Sitka Spruce that dies and took the trees surrounding it down, when it fell. We walked over the trees & up a steep, narrow incline; it was nice & flat at the top.One of the fascinating things about the trees is they appear dead except for the tops of the tree. This is because there is very little light at the lower part of the woods. Many other plants flourish with only a small amount of light. We had a nice long hike along the beautiful & peaceful trail. This was an awesome trip because we got to see so many plants and signs of wildlife.
McCarthy And Kennicott summary.
7/17/09 – 7/19/09
It was beautiful with temperatures ranging from 65-75 degrees. It was very dry and smokey. There was a breeze at times but not any strong winds. There were wildfires burning in the area, producing all the smoke.
Plants:
White Spruce
Black Spruce
Aspen
Birch
Mistletoe
Fire Weed
Siberian Aster
Mountain Avens
Wild Rose
Northern Yarrow
Juniper
Soapberries
Strawberry Spinach
Bear Root
Willow
Indian Paint Brush
Kinnikinnick
Horse Tail
Bog Star
Bracted Bog Orchid
Lichen
Lupin
Orange Fungus
Bearberries
Elegant Jacobs Ladder
Twin Flower
Monks Hood
Lesser Pink Pyrola/ Wintergreen
Blueberries
Prickly Saxifrage
Trappers Tea
Crowberries
Juniper
Golden Rod
Beautiful Jacobs Ladder
Bluebells/Lungwort
Moss Heather
Saprophyte
Animals:
Aphids
Fly
Seagull
Canine/Wolf Tracks!
Spider
Fly
Small yellow insect.
Hawk with a white tail.
Magpie
Hare
Black Bear
Hare
Swallow
Bever Dens
Moose Scat
Loon
Douglas Squirrel
Raven
Dragon Fly
Leaf Miner
This was a very exhausting and draining trip for everyone. We enjoyed the beauty of the area, and it was nice to get out of Valdez & explore. Saturday morning, I was able to get good pictures of Mount Blackburn, which is the highest peak in the Wrangell Mountains. The old buildings in McCarthy and Kennicott were very interesting. I think everyone would have benefited if we had taken some time to relax, because on Sunday morning we were exhausted & ready to leave. The other people staying in the lodge did not help things. It’s sad when a dog has more sense than its owners. This was a great learning experience for all of us. I’m proud of my classmates for coming along and giving it their best shot.
It was beautiful with temperatures ranging from 65-75 degrees. It was very dry and smokey. There was a breeze at times but not any strong winds. There were wildfires burning in the area, producing all the smoke.
Plants:
White Spruce
Black Spruce
Aspen
Birch
Mistletoe
Fire Weed
Siberian Aster
Mountain Avens
Wild Rose
Northern Yarrow
Juniper
Soapberries
Strawberry Spinach
Bear Root
Willow
Indian Paint Brush
Kinnikinnick
Horse Tail
Bog Star
Bracted Bog Orchid
Lichen
Lupin
Orange Fungus
Bearberries
Elegant Jacobs Ladder
Twin Flower
Monks Hood
Lesser Pink Pyrola/ Wintergreen
Blueberries
Prickly Saxifrage
Trappers Tea
Crowberries
Juniper
Golden Rod
Beautiful Jacobs Ladder
Bluebells/Lungwort
Moss Heather
Saprophyte
Animals:
Aphids
Fly
Seagull
Canine/Wolf Tracks!
Spider
Fly
Small yellow insect.
Hawk with a white tail.
Magpie
Hare
Black Bear
Hare
Swallow
Bever Dens
Moose Scat
Loon
Douglas Squirrel
Raven
Dragon Fly
Leaf Miner
This was a very exhausting and draining trip for everyone. We enjoyed the beauty of the area, and it was nice to get out of Valdez & explore. Saturday morning, I was able to get good pictures of Mount Blackburn, which is the highest peak in the Wrangell Mountains. The old buildings in McCarthy and Kennicott were very interesting. I think everyone would have benefited if we had taken some time to relax, because on Sunday morning we were exhausted & ready to leave. The other people staying in the lodge did not help things. It’s sad when a dog has more sense than its owners. This was a great learning experience for all of us. I’m proud of my classmates for coming along and giving it their best shot.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Minreal Creek/Shoup Bay.
Time: 12:00-3:00
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Place: Mineral Creek Beach/ Shoup Bay Trail
Temperature: 50 to 55 dagrees
Climate: Mostly cloudy, Very breeze, some sun
plants
Chocolate Lilly
Rock Weed
Idotea
Sitka Valerian
Large Leaf Avens
Wild Geranium
Nagoonberry
Dogwood Bunchberry
Coastal Paintbrush
Sedge
Blue Flag
Tiny Mushroom
Dune Grass
Red Alder
Raspberry
Baby’s Breath
Beach Greens
Sea Lettuce
Lady Fern
Alaska Violet
Crow Parsnip
Wild Celery
Captive Valarian
Nagoon Berry
Corn Lilly
Wild Lilly Of The Valley
Elder Berry
Skunk Cabbage
Death Camas
Bog Candle
Sedge
Horse Tail
Red Fescue
Shooting Stars
Bracken Fern
Northern Yarrow
Beach Pea
Yellow Paintbrush
Cottonwood
Dandelions
A seed pod from an Iris.
Rockweed
Lichen
Dried Shelf Mushroom
Isopod:
Idotea
Decapod Crustacean:
Crab
Mollusc:
Snail
Blue Muscle (Bay Muscle)
Insects:
Bee
Mosquito
Gnats
Fly
Moth
Mites:
Spider Mite
animals
Vole running along the creek.
Tunnels, which are evidence of voles & mice.
(mechel)
This field trip came with a bonus; we got some exercise! We walked about 1 mile down Shoup Bay trail to the path which leads to the beach. Once on the beach, we walked out as far as we could to identify the organisms living in the water. We identified rockweed & few of the creatures that live around it, when the tide started coming in quickly. We explored the beach, turning over rocks & sticks to see if anything was living underneath. We found, a couple dead crabs, a shelf mushroom that had dried out & snail tracks. It was windy & cool on the beach so we headed back to the trail. As we walked up the trail the wind died down & you could feel the temperature rise.
We made couple stops along the trail to identify plants. We saw several “full grown” red alders. It’s amazing when you think about how the little sapling we saw in the bog last week grows into a big tree. As we were walking up the trail we stopped at the meadow, where we came across a few hikers & their dogs. They had two chows & a cocker spaniel with them. In the meadow I quickly identified red fescue, the years working for a lawn care company helped with that. I have to say, that I actually enjoy sitting on the ground identifying plants.
As we headed back toward the trail head, we stopped to identify a few more things & got a good look at a huge cottonwood tree, with lichens on it. I found this field trip to be very relaxing & hope everyone else did as well
(Jenica)
I was cold on this trip, I guess next time I will have dress warmer then I did. It was fun walking along the beach looking at all kids of different thing such as the list above says. We did see a lot of things on this trip, but a lot of it was something that we have already seen. But now it was all blooming which was pretty cool, because every flower we seen were beautiful. Next time I hope we see more new and better things.
(Me)
i enjoyed the trip eventhough it was cold an got sick from it. We Walked along the beach an saw alot of cool things that you wouldn't normaly notice.
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Place: Mineral Creek Beach/ Shoup Bay Trail
Temperature: 50 to 55 dagrees
Climate: Mostly cloudy, Very breeze, some sun
plants
Chocolate Lilly
Rock Weed
Idotea
Sitka Valerian
Large Leaf Avens
Wild Geranium
Nagoonberry
Dogwood Bunchberry
Coastal Paintbrush
Sedge
Blue Flag
Tiny Mushroom
Dune Grass
Red Alder
Raspberry
Baby’s Breath
Beach Greens
Sea Lettuce
Lady Fern
Alaska Violet
Crow Parsnip
Wild Celery
Captive Valarian
Nagoon Berry
Corn Lilly
Wild Lilly Of The Valley
Elder Berry
Skunk Cabbage
Death Camas
Bog Candle
Sedge
Horse Tail
Red Fescue
Shooting Stars
Bracken Fern
Northern Yarrow
Beach Pea
Yellow Paintbrush
Cottonwood
Dandelions
A seed pod from an Iris.
Rockweed
Lichen
Dried Shelf Mushroom
Isopod:
Idotea
Decapod Crustacean:
Crab
Mollusc:
Snail
Blue Muscle (Bay Muscle)
Insects:
Bee
Mosquito
Gnats
Fly
Moth
Mites:
Spider Mite
animals
Vole running along the creek.
Tunnels, which are evidence of voles & mice.
(mechel)
This field trip came with a bonus; we got some exercise! We walked about 1 mile down Shoup Bay trail to the path which leads to the beach. Once on the beach, we walked out as far as we could to identify the organisms living in the water. We identified rockweed & few of the creatures that live around it, when the tide started coming in quickly. We explored the beach, turning over rocks & sticks to see if anything was living underneath. We found, a couple dead crabs, a shelf mushroom that had dried out & snail tracks. It was windy & cool on the beach so we headed back to the trail. As we walked up the trail the wind died down & you could feel the temperature rise.
We made couple stops along the trail to identify plants. We saw several “full grown” red alders. It’s amazing when you think about how the little sapling we saw in the bog last week grows into a big tree. As we were walking up the trail we stopped at the meadow, where we came across a few hikers & their dogs. They had two chows & a cocker spaniel with them. In the meadow I quickly identified red fescue, the years working for a lawn care company helped with that. I have to say, that I actually enjoy sitting on the ground identifying plants.
As we headed back toward the trail head, we stopped to identify a few more things & got a good look at a huge cottonwood tree, with lichens on it. I found this field trip to be very relaxing & hope everyone else did as well
(Jenica)
I was cold on this trip, I guess next time I will have dress warmer then I did. It was fun walking along the beach looking at all kids of different thing such as the list above says. We did see a lot of things on this trip, but a lot of it was something that we have already seen. But now it was all blooming which was pretty cool, because every flower we seen were beautiful. Next time I hope we see more new and better things.
(Me)
i enjoyed the trip eventhough it was cold an got sick from it. We Walked along the beach an saw alot of cool things that you wouldn't normaly notice.
Valdez Glacier, an 12 Mile summerier
12 Mile
Date: 6/15/2009
Time: 12:30p.m – 2- p.m
Temperature: About 65 It was a beautiful sunny day, with some clouds.
Plants we seen on our trip:
Sitka Alder
Black Cotton Wood
Sitka Spruce
Mountain Avens
Side bells Pyrola
Coastal Reindeer
Willow Tree
Elegant Goldenrod
River Beauty Plants we seen on our trip:
River Beauty
Sitka Alder
Willow Tree
Elegant Goldenrod
Dwarf Willow
Arctic Willow
Pea plants
animal skat, of wild an domain animals
Sitka spruce
bloom rape ground cone
mountain Adler
false pixy cup
side bells pyrola
orange mushroom
willow trees Atlas 3 kinds
elegant goldenrod
mountain sage wort
pink wintergreen
northern yarrow
Eskimo potato or called bear root
Birds/ Other thing just seen on our trip:
(2) Tundra Swans with babies
Eagle
Black Bear Cub (So very cute)
Convergent Lady Beetle
Moth
Bees
Fly
Again Tons of Mosquito
Poop (dog maybe)
Out at Valdez glacier
55 degrees,
slightly breezy
plants:
tones of water
Adler trees
willow tree
fire weed
dwarf willow
Eskimo potato
Arctic willow
purple beach pea
dwarf fire weed/ river beauty
single delight shy median
northern goldenrod
kill Deva
animals:
black bear,
animal diggings bear
(Jenica)
The different things that I had seen between the two places was for one at 12 mile there was rocks everywhere as there was at the Glacier as while. But there was no water there; to me it seemed as if all the wildflowers and trees were growing out of the rocks. Between both places there was the same wildflowers and trees, I didn’t see much deference there at all.
I would have to say that my all time favorite thing on this trip would have to be seeing the little baby cub. That was the very first time I have ever seen a bear it was so cute. But I guess we should have known that we might have seen a bear, because I did over hear you say that there were signs of bears. I just think that its crazy that there are bears just walking around like that and I got to see it for the first time ever. That’s so cool!some similarity's that i found were out at 12 mile it was much dryer an a lot of diff rent vegetation's like likens, an trees , but not a lot of wild flowers. The two places had alot of same plants, but it also has differences between the places.
(MY blog comments)
Some of the differences i noticed was the vegetation by the glacier was less but more wild an the trees grew more out there an at 12 mile, but were fairly younger than anywhere else.
It was also wonderful to notice the water.
Very peaceful, an it was quiet. The black bear was a cub only this year.
but out at 12 mile the ground was covered by moss an a thin Lear of dirt. It has a lot of gravel an rocks.
(Michel)
Yesterday was a beautiful day to be out. Our first stop was at a trail just off the road at 12 mile. The first thing I noticed was the canine feces that I almost stepped in. The feces were from both wild & domestic canines. The ground was dry & rocky, with a lot of lichens. There were also a lot of cottonwood, Sitka Alders, Sitka Spruce and Willow along the path. Did you know that Alaska has 27 different species of willow? Alaska also has 25 spices of mosquito. The mosquitoes were out in full force yesterday. Surprisingly I didn't get bit.
On the drive from 12 mile to Valdez Glacier we saw a Tundra Swan with fledglings in a pond. As we were arriving at the glacier I spotted a immature bald eagle flying over us. The water from the glacier is gray and cloudy. This is caused by glacial silt, which is formed as the glacier moves over rocks breaking them down. You could think of it as rock dust. We found the same plants growing near the glacier as at 12 mile. This is due to the similarities between the two areas. They both have very rocky, thin soil. The rocks were left by glaciers as the moved along the ground. It's amazing that so many plants thrive on rock! These are also moist areas and the plants we found do well in a moist environment. The plants we identified also like low to middle elevations, which is another reason we found the same plants at both places.
This was an enjoyable trip. The best part for me happened as we were leaving the glacier. As we drove past the shooting range one of my classmates spotted a black bear cub. We backed the van up to get a look at the cub. Staying in the van, we watched the cub for a moment as he/she tried to get into the dumpster. We did not see mama bear, but know she was close. Mother bears are extremely protective of their cubs, just because you don't see her with the cub does not mean she does not see you.
Date: 6/15/2009
Time: 12:30p.m – 2- p.m
Temperature: About 65 It was a beautiful sunny day, with some clouds.
Plants we seen on our trip:
Sitka Alder
Black Cotton Wood
Sitka Spruce
Mountain Avens
Side bells Pyrola
Coastal Reindeer
Willow Tree
Elegant Goldenrod
River Beauty Plants we seen on our trip:
River Beauty
Sitka Alder
Willow Tree
Elegant Goldenrod
Dwarf Willow
Arctic Willow
Pea plants
animal skat, of wild an domain animals
Sitka spruce
bloom rape ground cone
mountain Adler
false pixy cup
side bells pyrola
orange mushroom
willow trees Atlas 3 kinds
elegant goldenrod
mountain sage wort
pink wintergreen
northern yarrow
Eskimo potato or called bear root
Birds/ Other thing just seen on our trip:
(2) Tundra Swans with babies
Eagle
Black Bear Cub (So very cute)
Convergent Lady Beetle
Moth
Bees
Fly
Again Tons of Mosquito
Poop (dog maybe)
Out at Valdez glacier
55 degrees,
slightly breezy
plants:
tones of water
Adler trees
willow tree
fire weed
dwarf willow
Eskimo potato
Arctic willow
purple beach pea
dwarf fire weed/ river beauty
single delight shy median
northern goldenrod
kill Deva
animals:
black bear,
animal diggings bear
(Jenica)
The different things that I had seen between the two places was for one at 12 mile there was rocks everywhere as there was at the Glacier as while. But there was no water there; to me it seemed as if all the wildflowers and trees were growing out of the rocks. Between both places there was the same wildflowers and trees, I didn’t see much deference there at all.
I would have to say that my all time favorite thing on this trip would have to be seeing the little baby cub. That was the very first time I have ever seen a bear it was so cute. But I guess we should have known that we might have seen a bear, because I did over hear you say that there were signs of bears. I just think that its crazy that there are bears just walking around like that and I got to see it for the first time ever. That’s so cool!some similarity's that i found were out at 12 mile it was much dryer an a lot of diff rent vegetation's like likens, an trees , but not a lot of wild flowers. The two places had alot of same plants, but it also has differences between the places.
(MY blog comments)
Some of the differences i noticed was the vegetation by the glacier was less but more wild an the trees grew more out there an at 12 mile, but were fairly younger than anywhere else.
It was also wonderful to notice the water.
Very peaceful, an it was quiet. The black bear was a cub only this year.
but out at 12 mile the ground was covered by moss an a thin Lear of dirt. It has a lot of gravel an rocks.
(Michel)
Yesterday was a beautiful day to be out. Our first stop was at a trail just off the road at 12 mile. The first thing I noticed was the canine feces that I almost stepped in. The feces were from both wild & domestic canines. The ground was dry & rocky, with a lot of lichens. There were also a lot of cottonwood, Sitka Alders, Sitka Spruce and Willow along the path. Did you know that Alaska has 27 different species of willow? Alaska also has 25 spices of mosquito. The mosquitoes were out in full force yesterday. Surprisingly I didn't get bit.
On the drive from 12 mile to Valdez Glacier we saw a Tundra Swan with fledglings in a pond. As we were arriving at the glacier I spotted a immature bald eagle flying over us. The water from the glacier is gray and cloudy. This is caused by glacial silt, which is formed as the glacier moves over rocks breaking them down. You could think of it as rock dust. We found the same plants growing near the glacier as at 12 mile. This is due to the similarities between the two areas. They both have very rocky, thin soil. The rocks were left by glaciers as the moved along the ground. It's amazing that so many plants thrive on rock! These are also moist areas and the plants we found do well in a moist environment. The plants we identified also like low to middle elevations, which is another reason we found the same plants at both places.
This was an enjoyable trip. The best part for me happened as we were leaving the glacier. As we drove past the shooting range one of my classmates spotted a black bear cub. We backed the van up to get a look at the cub. Staying in the van, we watched the cub for a moment as he/she tried to get into the dumpster. We did not see mama bear, but know she was close. Mother bears are extremely protective of their cubs, just because you don't see her with the cub does not mean she does not see you.
Dock point summerie
SEA Weed
mussel
Limpets
Mussels
Butter Clam
Amph Pods
Blue Mussels
Kelp Isopod
Nuttal’s Cockle
Northern Yero
Wild Celery
kelp
Beach Cinquefoil (Pacific Silver weed)
Alder Tree
Pink Yarrow
Beach pea
Goat’s beard
Fringe cup
Alder
A Rush
Dandelions
Rock Weed
Red berried Elder
Devils Club
Watermelon berry
Fire weed
Dogwood
Lady fern
Early blueberry
Wild Iris
Skunk cabbage
Blueberry
Feather moss
Tree moss
Alaska Spirea (Beauvera’s Spinraea)
Alaska Cotton
Corn Lily
Broom rape ground cone
Animals an orgasms an other things
Bear Bed
Bear prints
Fox prints
Eagle in tree with nest
Owl Feather
Pill Bug
Squirrel
Bear skat
Bog Hole
eagle in nest
large birds
Out of every ones blog i got that everyone enjoyed the trip. Everyone was looking under rocks an moving sea weed around to find things we found a shrimp an pill bugs. We Also had Some ripe Samoan Berry's, but the blue Berry's we not ripe yet.
the tide was coming in on the beach as we were out on it, but it was still fun, an really slippery, we saw a lot of plants an singhs of animals while we were out too,
i hope every one ejoyed it as much as me
mussel
Limpets
Mussels
Butter Clam
Amph Pods
Blue Mussels
Kelp Isopod
Nuttal’s Cockle
Northern Yero
Wild Celery
kelp
Beach Cinquefoil (Pacific Silver weed)
Alder Tree
Pink Yarrow
Beach pea
Goat’s beard
Fringe cup
Alder
A Rush
Dandelions
Rock Weed
Red berried Elder
Devils Club
Watermelon berry
Fire weed
Dogwood
Lady fern
Early blueberry
Wild Iris
Skunk cabbage
Blueberry
Feather moss
Tree moss
Alaska Spirea (Beauvera’s Spinraea)
Alaska Cotton
Corn Lily
Broom rape ground cone
Animals an orgasms an other things
Bear Bed
Bear prints
Fox prints
Eagle in tree with nest
Owl Feather
Pill Bug
Squirrel
Bear skat
Bog Hole
eagle in nest
large birds
Out of every ones blog i got that everyone enjoyed the trip. Everyone was looking under rocks an moving sea weed around to find things we found a shrimp an pill bugs. We Also had Some ripe Samoan Berry's, but the blue Berry's we not ripe yet.
the tide was coming in on the beach as we were out on it, but it was still fun, an really slippery, we saw a lot of plants an singhs of animals while we were out too,
i hope every one ejoyed it as much as me
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Grey wolf; the short version.
Canis Lupus
Height 26-38 inches at the shoulder. Length 4.5-6.5 feet from the nose to the tip of the tail. Adult males weigh 85 to 145lbs. Females are five to ten pounds lighter rarely weighing more than 110 pounds. Their fur ranges from black to nearly white, with every shade of gray and brown between these extremes. Gray and black are the most common. Fur consists of two layers. The first layer is made up of guard hairs which repel dirt and water. The undercoat is very thick, water-resistant and keeps the wolf insulated. The undercoat is shed in late spring and early summer. The under coat is gray regardless of the outer coats color.
Breeding occurs in February and March. Gestation last for about 63 days. Two to ten pups can be born per litter. Pups weigh 1lb at birth. They are born blind, deaf and completely dependant. Pups are born with have darker fur and blue eyes. The eyes change to a yellow or gold color between 8 and 16 weeks old. Pups are usually born in a den and the packs life revolves around the den. Wolves have been known to go 20 miles away from the den in search of food to bring back. When the adult returns with food, the pups get excited, rush over and lick the adults mouth. The adult regurgitates the meat and the pup eats it. Pups are weaned in mid to late summer and start moving away from the den. By winter they are capable of hunting and traveling with pack members.
Wolves are extremely intelligent and social animals, living in packs. Pack size varies depending on habitat and availability of prey. There is a strong dominance hierarchy within each pack. The alpha male and female are dominant over all other individuals. The alpha female, is subordinate only to the alpha male. If the alpha male becomes unable to maintain his dominance, the beta male will take his place. Alpha males leave the pack if this occurs, but have been know to stay. Rank within the pack determines who gets to mate and who eats first. Rank is communicated using body language such as crouching, chin touching, and rolling over to show their stomach aka the alpha roll. The alpha male does not force a lower ranking wolf to roll over. The submissive wolf will roll over on its own. Vocalizations, such as howling, growling and barking allow pack members to communicate with each other about where they are, where prey is, and to communicate with other packs about where the boundaries of their territories are. Scent marking is also used to communicate boundaries with other packs. Wolvesare docile and have a strong aversion to fighting.
Wolves are carnivorous. Their diet consists of moose, caribou, musk oxen, and bison. They will also prey upon small mammals when the needed. Wolves often use the entire carcass including hair and bones. Wolves have been known to eat salmon and various types of berries. Contrary to what certain people would like the public to believe, wolves keep prey populations healthy, by preying on older, weak or sick members of a heard.
Humans are the wolf’s main predator. Most humans have an irrational fear and hatred towards the wolf. Humans have determined where wolves live and what prey is available. Wolves are naturally shy and will avoid confrontation.
There are those who claim to love wolves and want to have one as a pet. They go out & purchase a wolf-dog hybrid or attempt to get a pure wolf. They have a wonderful time with their new pup until it starts acting like a wolf. Most don’t take the time to learn about wolves or have the space to keep one. The poor animals is kept outside on a chain, dumped along the side of the road, or if the hybrid is lucky dropped off at a rescue center. Not everyone who owns a wolf-dog hybrid is irresponsible. Some people actually take the time to study wolf behavior & learn as much as possible before making the decision to add a hybrid to their family.
Resources:
Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and conservation ~ By David L. Mech and Luigi Boitani
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game
http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/furbear/wolf.php
Wolf Song Of Alaska
http://www.wolfsongalaska.org/
Video found on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8C8AVWLhwI
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Moss Heather
Also known as: Cassiope stelleriana
Family: Heath/Ericaceae
Plant:perennial
Habitat: high mountains, moist woodlands near the coast of Southeastern and South central Alaska and Aleutian Chain.
Blooming Time: June and July
Seen at: On our trip at McCarthy
Description: Looking very similar to Crowberries and moss this wildflower can grow up to 6-8” tall. The dwarf evergreen shrub leaves are narrow and a yellowish-green. This wildflower is composed of 5 combined, somewhat flared, white petals are singular with short stems, occasionally pinkish, and sepals are reddish.
Work Cited:
Alaskan Wildflowers by:Verna E. Pratt
Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast by: Pojar Mackinnon
Sea Lions
The sea lion is the biggest member of the Otariidae or "eared seals." ; they were named sea lions because the males are similar to the African lion. The adult males have a large head, neck, and shoulders; their hair grows on the neck and shoulders giving it the look like a lion. The female are much smaller, they are just a little over 8 feet long and weigh over 580 pounds. The males can grow up to 11 feet long and weigh a little over 1,200 pounds. They are yellowish to dark brown; they can live up to 20 years and swim up to 17mph.The sea lions eat all different kinds of fish such as pollock, flounder, herring, capelin, Pacific cod, salmon, rockfish, sculpins, and invertebrates like squid and octopus. Males mate with females give birth, to one pup in May or July then come into estrus in their territory. They breed soon after giving birth, but the egg is not fertilized in the uterus yet but starts growing in October. Some females start breed in their first and third year, but by their sixth year, almost all of the females are breeding and having pups.The sea lions are found anywhere ranging from Alaska to northwestern California, Russia, in the Kurile and Commander islands, and south as far as Hokkaido and northern Honshu in Japan.“ In the 1970s, the global population of the sea lions was about 281,800, with the Alaska population estimated at 242,000, including pups. The number of sea lions in Alaska declined by 50 percent from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s.”Seasonal movements take place usually from exposed areas in summer in order to protected areas in winter. They can move over long distances, the longest time recorded was by an animal that was marked at Marmot Island near Kodiak and taken near Ketchikan, and the distance was just about 900 miles
Work Cited:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Sea_Lion
http://sealioncaves.com/about/sea_lions/
http://www.petersburgalaska.com/sealion.html
http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/special/esa/sealion_steller/s_sealion.php
Boat Trip/ Gold Creek
Time: 7*20*09
Date: 10:40am -1:30pm
Weather:Very cold, raining, with lots of clouds and a temp some where in the 50’s
Plants and animals seen on our trip:
Humpback Shrimp
Two Spot Shrimp
Irish Lords
Sea Lions
Seagulls
Blue Muscles
Fire Weed
Clam Shells
Rock Weed
Butter Clam
Wild Celery
False Pacific Jingle Shell
Artit Turn Feather
Musk Limpet
Lewis Moon
Salmon Tellin
Beach Groundsel
Sea Otter
I think this trip was the best one, yes I was a little scared at first but we all made alive. It was really cool to see the sea lions, and sea otters I have never seen anything like that before.Seeing that was the part that I liked the most, the next part would have to be when he span us around on the boat when we were standing on the very front part of it. Thank you for the trips it was fun and I would go on a boat again sometime I really did enjoy myself out there.
Date: 10:40am -1:30pm
Weather:Very cold, raining, with lots of clouds and a temp some where in the 50’s
Plants and animals seen on our trip:
Humpback Shrimp
Two Spot Shrimp
Irish Lords
Sea Lions
Seagulls
Blue Muscles
Fire Weed
Clam Shells
Rock Weed
Butter Clam
Wild Celery
False Pacific Jingle Shell
Artit Turn Feather
Musk Limpet
Lewis Moon
Salmon Tellin
Beach Groundsel
Sea Otter
I think this trip was the best one, yes I was a little scared at first but we all made alive. It was really cool to see the sea lions, and sea otters I have never seen anything like that before.Seeing that was the part that I liked the most, the next part would have to be when he span us around on the boat when we were standing on the very front part of it. Thank you for the trips it was fun and I would go on a boat again sometime I really did enjoy myself out there.
The Alaskan Sea otter
A beautiful animal…
Sea otters are members of the weasel family, with large eyes and thick, dark brown fur. Their rich pelt has up to a million hairs per square inch which substitutes for blubber to keep them warm in cold water. Among the very few marine mammals known to use tools, they break open clams and abalone with stones to get at the meat inside. These intelligent animals live in shallow water and prefer kelp forests, sometimes anchoring themselves in one place by wrapping strands of kelp around their bodies while they rest.
Urchin Bed - Sea otters prey on sea urchins, keeping their populations in balance.
Sea otters are a keystone species in the kelp forest ecosystem, eating sea urchins, clams, snails, sea stars, squid, octopuses and abalone. When present in healthy numbers, they keep sea urchin populations in check. When sea otters decline, however, urchin numbers explode—as does their grazing pressure on bull kelp. The urchins chew off the attachments keeping bull kelp in place, causing them to die and float away. This decimates kelp beds and sets off a chain reaction that depletes the food supply for other marine animals and in turn causes their decline.
…nearly hunted to extinction
Ironically, the thick fur that sustained sea otters for hundreds of thousands of years nearly brought them to extinction when European trappers discovered their value in the 18Th and 19Th centuries. Before 1741, when Russian explorers discovered and began to hunt otters on islands off the Alaskan coast—using enslaved native peoples like the Aleuts to help with the slaughter—there were between 150,000 and 300,000 otters living between Alaska and Baja California. During peak hunt years, 500 to 600 otters were killed every week in San Francisco Bay alone. By 1911, when the International Fur Seal Treaty was signed, giving otters some protection, there were only 1,000 to 2,000 animals left alive throughout the entire range. Today, sea otters are extinct in virtually the entire coast of North America south of Alaska. Only one small population remains in the vicinity of Big Sur, California.
Saving the Alaskan Sea Otter
Declining Species and Ecosystems. There are two populations of Northern sea otters: E. lutris lutris (the Russian sea otter) and E. lutris kenyoni (the Alaskan sea otter). Recent data collected by both the Fish & Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey show that the Alaskan sea otter population in the Aleutians declined by 95% since the mid-1970s, when it numbered some 50,000 to 100,000 strong. From 1992 to 2000 it may have declined by 70%. Today, as few as 6,000 otters may remain in the entire Aleutian chain.
Steller Sea Lions - by Gerald and Buff Corsi
Steller sea lions, once a main food source of killer whales, have become very rare, forcing the whales to eat Aleutian sea otters instead.
Steller sea lion was emergency-listed as an endangered species in 1990.
The decline may be due to increased predation by killer whales. Killer whales normally don't eat sea otters because they are too small. The whale's usual food source, Steller sea lions and harbor seals, have declined drastically in recent years, however, causing the whales to shift to sea otters. Steller sea lions are already listed as "endangered" species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The unraveling of the marine food chain, from Steller sea lions to killer whales to sea otters to urchins to the kelp beds themselves, is a grave sign of ecosystem stress beginning to take its toll.
Protective Petition Filed, But A Lawsuit May Be Necessary. On October 25, 2000, the Center for Biological Diversity formally petitioned the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to list the Western Alaska/Aleutian Islands population of the sea otter as "Endangered" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The petition was based on the agency's own biological data and called for immediate listing and protection to save the population from extinction.
Rather than act on our petition, however, the Fish & Wildlife Service placed the population in administrative purgatory. On November 9, 2000, it designated the sea otter in the Aleutian Islands a "Candidate" species under the Act —a designation without protective status. In the agency's own words, "Candidate Species status does not restrict any activities of any kind." The agency says it does not plan to actually list the species as endangered until 2002—by which time the otter population may have suffered further critical decline.
In response, on November 15, 2000, the Center filed a formal 60-day notice of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for its failure to immediately propose listing and protection. The lawsuit argues that the "candidate" designation is an illegal delay tactic that could result in the extinction of the population. Federal policy allows species to be designated as "candidates" for protection when it is in danger of extinction but the agency is too busy with more imperiled species to take immediate action. In this case, the designation is clearly an unlawful dodge. No other species in Alaska is currently being processed by the Fish and Wildlife Service for Endangered Species Act listing.
Sea otters have been called the "old men of the sea" by sailors and fishermen because of their white whiskers and expressive faces.
Otters often anchor themselves in one place by wrapping strands of kelp around their bodies while they rest.
Gill Netting Shut Down to Protect California Sea Otter
A Roller Coaster of Decline and Recovery. Having been hunted to extinction along virtually the entire coast south of Alaska, 38 southern (or "California") sea otters managed to survive in a small population near Big Sur, California. By the 1970s, the population had increased to 1,800 individuals. It then began to nosedive due to gill netting as otters got entangled in the near-shore nets and drowned. With the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972, and the transfer of gill nets farther offshore, the population began to recover and was at 2,377 by 1995. Plans were made to declare it "recovered" and remove it from the Endangered Species list.
Between 1996 and 1999, however, the population experienced a sudden downturn. In 1999, only 2,090 were found. A spring 2000 survey counted a total of 2,317 otters, but government biologists do not know whether the apparent upward trend will continue.
Threats to the population are not fully understood but are thought to include by-catch in commercial fisheries and oil spill pollution. In 1998, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) estimated that the set gillnet fisheries in Monterey Bay alone had killed 7, 28 and 41 sea otters in 1995, 1996 and 1997 respectively.
Protecting the Ecosystem to Protect Otters. To end by-catch kill, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Turtle Island Restoration Network filed a formal 60-day notice of intent to sue the California Department of Fish and Game for violating the ESA by allowing the killing of California sea otters in the state-managed halibut fishery in the Monterey Bay area.
In response, the state shut down the Monterey Bay set-gillnet fishery for halibut and angel shark on September 11, 2000. The order bans gillnetting in waters less than 60 fathoms from Pt. Reyes to Yankee Point, and thus effectively bans gillnet fishing in most of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Since the fishery also kills 120 harbor porpoises, 5,200 common murres, elephant seals, and California sea lions annually, the victory is important for the entire ecosystem. Common murres have declined from one million to about 100,000 on the Farallon Islands in the past two centuries.
In issuing the 120-day emergency closure, DFG admitted otter and murre populations could be jeopardized by the fishery. The closure also shuts down a portion of Santa Barbara County to gillnet fishing. In total, the closure will protect 150 miles of California's coast.
Dissuasion:
The Alaskan sea otter has from the 17Th through the late 18Th century, Due to the fact that the skins are valued high, an the over population of it predators an oil spills an contamination of its home waters. On November 15Th of 2000 a 60 day notice was filed to put out due to the faller to file a protective order.
In 1972 an act was filed to protect the sea otters shutting down the grill netting.
In 2000 there was a total of 2,317 otters counted
now there is hardly any left.
for more information go to http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/index.html
Sea otters are members of the weasel family, with large eyes and thick, dark brown fur. Their rich pelt has up to a million hairs per square inch which substitutes for blubber to keep them warm in cold water. Among the very few marine mammals known to use tools, they break open clams and abalone with stones to get at the meat inside. These intelligent animals live in shallow water and prefer kelp forests, sometimes anchoring themselves in one place by wrapping strands of kelp around their bodies while they rest.
Urchin Bed - Sea otters prey on sea urchins, keeping their populations in balance.
Sea otters are a keystone species in the kelp forest ecosystem, eating sea urchins, clams, snails, sea stars, squid, octopuses and abalone. When present in healthy numbers, they keep sea urchin populations in check. When sea otters decline, however, urchin numbers explode—as does their grazing pressure on bull kelp. The urchins chew off the attachments keeping bull kelp in place, causing them to die and float away. This decimates kelp beds and sets off a chain reaction that depletes the food supply for other marine animals and in turn causes their decline.
…nearly hunted to extinction
Ironically, the thick fur that sustained sea otters for hundreds of thousands of years nearly brought them to extinction when European trappers discovered their value in the 18Th and 19Th centuries. Before 1741, when Russian explorers discovered and began to hunt otters on islands off the Alaskan coast—using enslaved native peoples like the Aleuts to help with the slaughter—there were between 150,000 and 300,000 otters living between Alaska and Baja California. During peak hunt years, 500 to 600 otters were killed every week in San Francisco Bay alone. By 1911, when the International Fur Seal Treaty was signed, giving otters some protection, there were only 1,000 to 2,000 animals left alive throughout the entire range. Today, sea otters are extinct in virtually the entire coast of North America south of Alaska. Only one small population remains in the vicinity of Big Sur, California.
Saving the Alaskan Sea Otter
Declining Species and Ecosystems. There are two populations of Northern sea otters: E. lutris lutris (the Russian sea otter) and E. lutris kenyoni (the Alaskan sea otter). Recent data collected by both the Fish & Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey show that the Alaskan sea otter population in the Aleutians declined by 95% since the mid-1970s, when it numbered some 50,000 to 100,000 strong. From 1992 to 2000 it may have declined by 70%. Today, as few as 6,000 otters may remain in the entire Aleutian chain.
Steller Sea Lions - by Gerald and Buff Corsi
Steller sea lions, once a main food source of killer whales, have become very rare, forcing the whales to eat Aleutian sea otters instead.
Steller sea lion was emergency-listed as an endangered species in 1990.
The decline may be due to increased predation by killer whales. Killer whales normally don't eat sea otters because they are too small. The whale's usual food source, Steller sea lions and harbor seals, have declined drastically in recent years, however, causing the whales to shift to sea otters. Steller sea lions are already listed as "endangered" species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The unraveling of the marine food chain, from Steller sea lions to killer whales to sea otters to urchins to the kelp beds themselves, is a grave sign of ecosystem stress beginning to take its toll.
Protective Petition Filed, But A Lawsuit May Be Necessary. On October 25, 2000, the Center for Biological Diversity formally petitioned the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to list the Western Alaska/Aleutian Islands population of the sea otter as "Endangered" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The petition was based on the agency's own biological data and called for immediate listing and protection to save the population from extinction.
Rather than act on our petition, however, the Fish & Wildlife Service placed the population in administrative purgatory. On November 9, 2000, it designated the sea otter in the Aleutian Islands a "Candidate" species under the Act —a designation without protective status. In the agency's own words, "Candidate Species status does not restrict any activities of any kind." The agency says it does not plan to actually list the species as endangered until 2002—by which time the otter population may have suffered further critical decline.
In response, on November 15, 2000, the Center filed a formal 60-day notice of its intent to sue the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for its failure to immediately propose listing and protection. The lawsuit argues that the "candidate" designation is an illegal delay tactic that could result in the extinction of the population. Federal policy allows species to be designated as "candidates" for protection when it is in danger of extinction but the agency is too busy with more imperiled species to take immediate action. In this case, the designation is clearly an unlawful dodge. No other species in Alaska is currently being processed by the Fish and Wildlife Service for Endangered Species Act listing.
Sea otters have been called the "old men of the sea" by sailors and fishermen because of their white whiskers and expressive faces.
Otters often anchor themselves in one place by wrapping strands of kelp around their bodies while they rest.
Gill Netting Shut Down to Protect California Sea Otter
A Roller Coaster of Decline and Recovery. Having been hunted to extinction along virtually the entire coast south of Alaska, 38 southern (or "California") sea otters managed to survive in a small population near Big Sur, California. By the 1970s, the population had increased to 1,800 individuals. It then began to nosedive due to gill netting as otters got entangled in the near-shore nets and drowned. With the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972, and the transfer of gill nets farther offshore, the population began to recover and was at 2,377 by 1995. Plans were made to declare it "recovered" and remove it from the Endangered Species list.
Between 1996 and 1999, however, the population experienced a sudden downturn. In 1999, only 2,090 were found. A spring 2000 survey counted a total of 2,317 otters, but government biologists do not know whether the apparent upward trend will continue.
Threats to the population are not fully understood but are thought to include by-catch in commercial fisheries and oil spill pollution. In 1998, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) estimated that the set gillnet fisheries in Monterey Bay alone had killed 7, 28 and 41 sea otters in 1995, 1996 and 1997 respectively.
Protecting the Ecosystem to Protect Otters. To end by-catch kill, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Turtle Island Restoration Network filed a formal 60-day notice of intent to sue the California Department of Fish and Game for violating the ESA by allowing the killing of California sea otters in the state-managed halibut fishery in the Monterey Bay area.
In response, the state shut down the Monterey Bay set-gillnet fishery for halibut and angel shark on September 11, 2000. The order bans gillnetting in waters less than 60 fathoms from Pt. Reyes to Yankee Point, and thus effectively bans gillnet fishing in most of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Since the fishery also kills 120 harbor porpoises, 5,200 common murres, elephant seals, and California sea lions annually, the victory is important for the entire ecosystem. Common murres have declined from one million to about 100,000 on the Farallon Islands in the past two centuries.
In issuing the 120-day emergency closure, DFG admitted otter and murre populations could be jeopardized by the fishery. The closure also shuts down a portion of Santa Barbara County to gillnet fishing. In total, the closure will protect 150 miles of California's coast.
Dissuasion:
The Alaskan sea otter has from the 17Th through the late 18Th century, Due to the fact that the skins are valued high, an the over population of it predators an oil spills an contamination of its home waters. On November 15Th of 2000 a 60 day notice was filed to put out due to the faller to file a protective order.
In 1972 an act was filed to protect the sea otters shutting down the grill netting.
In 2000 there was a total of 2,317 otters counted
now there is hardly any left.
for more information go to http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/index.html
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