Dead walruses found on northwest Alaska beach

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the deaths of walruses found in northwest Alaska.

The carcasses were photographed last week on a beach near Point Lay, the same site where 35,000 animals gathered Sept. 2.

The cause of death has not been confirmed, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in a release it appear the walrus died of natural causes. It did not provide a number of carcasses that were found.

Walruses since 2007 have gathered in large numbers on the Chukchi (chuk-CHEE’) Sea shore when sea ice recedes beyond the shallow outer continental shelf.

Walrus gathered in large herds can panic and stampede if approached by a polar bear, hunter or airplane.

Federal prosecutors are investigating the deaths of 25 walrus that were reported shot near Cape Lisburne.