The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
55°F
Current Conditions
Overcast clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

Group files notice it will sue over walrus protection

In this April 18, 2004 photo provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific walrus cows and yearlings rest on ice in Alaska. (Joel Garlich-Miller / Associated Press)
By Dan Joling Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A national environmental organization has filed notice that it will sue the federal government over its rejection of Pacific walrus as a threatened or endangered species.

The Center for Biological Diversity gave the required 60-day notice on Thursday.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2011 said walruses deserve the additional protection of being declared threatened because climate change has diminished much of their primary habitat, sea ice.

The agency delayed a listing because other species were a higher priority.

But it announced last week that it had concluded walruses have adapted to the lack of sea ice by foraging from coastlines.

Center for Biological Diversity attorney Kristen Monsell says there’s no question walruses are endangered and denying them protection is absurd and dangerous.