Vast herds of caribou roam the the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but the refuge is home to hundreds of other species as well.
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)is the largest wildlife refuge in the United States, and one of the most unique eco-systems on earth. Millions of acres of land support what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service describes as “large-scale ecological and evolutionary processes” that have proceeded throughout time, largely undisturbed by human activity. No other arctic park or refuge anywhere in world supports the diversity of plant and animal species found in northeast Alaska’s ANWR.
Mammals in ANWR
Though some arctic mammals such as moose and caribou are migratory, most are not, yet all the animals depend on the open, unbroken wilderness of the refuge for their survival. Eight species of marine mammals are found within the boundaries of the refuge. They are walrus, spotted seal, ringed seal, bearded seal, beluga whale, gray whale, bowhead whale, and largest land predator on earth, the polar bear. Terrestrial animals living in the refuge include shrews, lemmings, voles, martens, ermine, wolverines snowshoe hares, beavers, otters, wolves, arctic foxes, red foxes, lynx, brown (grizzly) bears, moose, caribou, dall sheep and a relic from the ice age, the musk ox.
Birds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Only a few species of birds, such as the grouse, ptarmigan, and ravens are permanent residents of ANWR, but 195 bird species visit the refuge annually. Most come to nest and raise their young. A comprehensive list of birds found in ANWR is on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s web site.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the migratory birds in ANWR is the huge distances that many of them travel to reach the refuge each spring. The northern wheatear, for example, travels 13,000 miles each year from its wintering grounds in Africa to northeast Alaska. The arctic tern travels a similar distance from its wintering grounds in Antarctica. The bar-tailed godwit winters in New Zealand and at one point in its journey, must fly non-stop across 7,200 miles of open ocean. Birds migrate to and from ANWR across vast distance to destinations around the world.
Fishes of ANWR
Fourteen species of freshwater fish are found in large numbers in the refuge. These include sheefish, grayling, and northern pike. Another 12 or so species of anadromous (ocean-going) fish return to fresh water streams in the refuge during the brief arctic summers. Among them are 4 species of salmon, dolly varden, and whitefish.
Though caribou are the signature species of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the refuge is a home and breeding ground for a wide variety of species, many of whom are endangered or threatened.
The copyright of the article Wildlife of Alaska's ANWR in Environmentalism is owned by Sheila Gaquin. Permission to republish Wildlife of Alaska's ANWR in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
we should drill for oil in the national wildlife refuge in alaska and
forget about these useless creatures roming this area when we are low on
fossil fuels
Jun 12, 2008 11:09 AM
Guest :
I live in Alaska, I have traveled the haul road up and down from Atigun
pass to the arctic ocean , I see the caribou and they are oblivious to the
pipe line !! We should not be subject to high gas prices and depend on
foregin oil when we have plenty of our own. I cherish the GREAT LAND,
ALASKA ! So do other Alaskans. The caribou are not affected , not bothered,
and really don't care no more than the next mile they travel !
Sep 5, 2008 7:13 AM
Guest :
DO NOT DRILL ANWR! We need to use resources responsibly. American
attitudes need to be less flipant and wasteful about resources.
Let'spreserve one of the last great places on earth
Dec 10, 2008 4:51 PM
Guest :
We should definitely drill in ANWR. We do need the oil now. Get away from
all the foreign sources. In the meantime, we can continue researching
alternative energy sources. Just because we can't SOLVE the problem,
doesn't mean we shouldn't do anything at all.
Mar 1, 2009 4:45 PM
Guest :
We shouldnt drill in ANWR. It would put the world in danger because i
increases the risk of global warming. It also harmings the animals. And
thier whole lifestyle would change. Also the economy, we probably wont be
able to pay to have things shipped to ANWR and only during the summer or
have things installed there. There are budge cuts and a big bailout so do
you want risk the economy just to put gas in your cars. Hey, if u were an
animal and people wanted to drill for oil were you live, you wouldnt want
that to happen. So thing of other ( animals too) other then yourself once
in awhile. By the way, i am a kid and know more about the problem then you
do. So do want to drill there for gas in your car, and a little more money
in the USA's pocket, well news flash buddy drilling there would increase
the risk of global warming, so by a time period, like 215 most of the ice
would be flooded and the world woould probably be in the process of being
on water again, so if we dont drill thetime we have left from the world
being all blue again is increased. But, drill there and the chance of the
world lasting longer before its all blue again is decreased. So pick make
the world live longer with us or shorter. Your call.
Mar 18, 2009 11:57 AM
Guest :
My dad works for exxon and use to be like a manger about some thing on alka
he said all you see is just pips lol ! any way thanks for the help!
May 24, 2009 2:15 PM
Guest :
WHAT THE HELL NO DRILLING NO DRILLING ITS GONNA BACFIRE ON US EVENTUALLY SO
WHAT IF WE NEED THE OIL? HUMANS HAVE BEEN SO SMART TO CREATE SO MANY USEFUL
THINGS WHY AREN'T WE SMART ENOUGHT TO COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE USE FOR
OIL???? HUH HUH IF YOU ARE SO SMART AND THINK WE SHOULD DRILL TELL ME WHY
ARENT WE SMART ENOUGH TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE USE FOR OIL?
