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Fish and Game

Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary

Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary, a group of seven craggy islands and their adjacent waters located in northern Bristol Bay, is world famous for its unique summer concentrations of walruses.

Mammals

round island Best known among the Walrus Islands is Round Island, where each summer large numbers of male walruses haul out on exposed, rocky beaches. Round Island is one of four major terrestrial haulouts in Alaska; the others are Capes Peirce (Togiak NWR), Newenham (Togiak NWR), and Seniavin (near Port Moller). Walrus return to these haulouts every spring as the ice pack recedes northward, remaining hauled out on the beach for several days between each feeding foray. Up to 14,000 walrus have been counted on Round Island in a single day. However, the number of walrus using the island fluctuates significantly from year to year. The peak count for all of 1998 was only 1,746 walrus. Several hundred Steller's sea lions haul out regularly at the southern tip of Round Island and can frequently be seen swimming offshore. Sea lions also haul out on High and Crooked Islands and the Twins. In April and May, gray whales feed in small pods offshore as they move northward on their annual spring migration. Orca, humpback, and minke whales have also been seen offshore. Harbor seals are common on most islands of the Sanctuary but rare at Round Island. Red foxes are regularly seen on Round Island, often feeding on seabirds, eggs, chicks, voles, shrews, and beach-cast carcasses. There are several active dens on the island, and fox kits may be observed during summer months. Small mammals, cached eggs, and perhaps walrus carcasses provide a winter food supply for these year-round residents. (Checklist of Round Island mammals)

Birds

Each summer, thousands of seabirds also return to the islands to nest and raise their young. Nearly 250,000 seabirds nest on Round Island. This includes 150,000 common murres, 70,000 black-legged kittiwakes, 1,250 pelagic cormorants, parakeet auklets, horned and tufted puffins, pigeon guillemots, and glaucous-winged gulls. Approximately 135,000 more seabirds nest on the Twins, and the other islands of the Sanctuary also support sizeable seabird colonies. Round Island is also home to numerous passerine, raptor, duck, and shorebird species. Including seabirds, more than 100 bird species have been observed within the Sanctuary. (Checklist of Round Island birds)

Research

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the US Geological Survey (Biological Research Division) have all worked cooperatively to sponsor recent research on Round Island. Walrus are counted daily at Round Island and other Bristol Bay haulouts to monitor the success of management policies and develop methods for a range-wide walrus census. Researchers have radio-tagged walrus at Round Island to identify other critical habitats and study seasonal patterns of migration. The effects of boat and airplane traffic near the haulout, as well as the Round Island visitor program, are also carefully monitored. In addition to walrus, staff monitor sea lion numbers, seabird populations and productivity, and other aspects of the island's ecology.

Marine Mammal Protection Act

The MMPA was enacted in 1972 to protect and encourage the growth of marine mammal populations to the greatest extent possible. In passing the Act, Congress recognized that it was necessary to protect both animals and critical habitats, including haulouts, from adverse human actions. Harassing, killing, and capturing marine mammals is strictly regulated, and the MMPA prescribes fines of up to $10,000 for each violation.

Public Use and Access

walruses on beach Boat access to Round Island and state waters within 3 miles of Round Island is allowed only by permit and when Sanctuary staff are present, usually between May 1 and August 15. Flying low over the island can cause walrus and seabird disturbance and is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Each summer visitors log hundreds of visitor days on Round Island, and twelve camping and five day-use permits can be issued at a time. Because driving rain, winds, and rough seas are common, visits are extremely weather dependent and visitors should come prepared with adequate raingear, footwear, food, and equipment (see Round Island gear checklist). Access to other islands in the Sanctuary does not require a permit. A visit to Black Rock to view harbor seals and cormorants is a high point for many visitors.

Visiting Round Island

Travel tips for getting to Round Island and information about how to apply for visitor permits is available on this website or from refuge staff. For this or other information about the Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary, contact us by telephone (907) 842-2334 or email eunice.dyasuk@alaska.gov.

For more information be sure to read the Walrus Island Sanctuary Annual Reports