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Arctic Wildlife Impacts
The Arctic Refuge provides critical habitat for a number of important species.
Migratory Birds – Approximately 135 species of birds visit the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge every year. Many are migratory birds that use the refuge to nest (70 species) or to rest during their journeys.
Migratory birds are vulnerable to many facets of oil development. Displacement from prime nesting, feeding, or staging habitat could lower survival rates and productivity due to increased predation and reduced fitness. Even small amounts of oil transferred to birds’ eggs by incubating adults are typically fatally toxic to the embryos inside.
Polar Bears – The coastal plain includes the most important polar bear denning area on American soil. Forty-two percent of all polar bears that den on U.S. land do so in the coastal plain. Disturbance to female polar bears in maternal den could result den abandonment and increased cub mortality. This is particularly a concern with seismic exploration.
Caribou – The Porcupine Caribou Herd that calves in the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge would be displaced from their birthing grounds by the spider web of infrastructure (roads, pipelines, airstrips) required to develop oil resources in the area. In general, caribou cows and calves avoid oil field infrastructure within 2.5 miles on either side of roads and pipelines.
According to a 2002 U.S. Geological Survey study, petroleum development will most likely result in restricting the areas available for calving. According to the study, effects that could be observed include: reduced survival of calves during June, reduced weight and condition of birthing cows, reduced weight of calves, and reduced probability of conception for cows in the fall. These impacts will likely reduce the productivity of the herd significantly.
Summary: The result of oil development on the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge would be lower birth rates for caribou and polar bears, less time for migratory birds to build up fat reserves required for their long flights home, and increased stress to musk ox which are resident on the coastal plain throughout the entire year.
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