Seal hunters have not suddenly found a new love for these cute fuzzy little baby seals. No for the second year in a row the seals have escaped being clubbed only to drown because of a lack of ice. Global warming it seems is doing the job that seal hunters no longer can.

This particular species really prefers ice” over land, Hammill said.

After being born, the white-furred pups nurse for 12 to 14 days. Then the mother leaves and the pups are weaned.

These juveniles moult during the next two weeks, trading their snow-white coats for silver ones flecked with small dark spots along each side.

Poor ice conditions mean more pups may die, while less food could be available for those being weaned.

The pups can’t swim very well and they tire quickly, Hammill pointed out.

“They are little butterballs of fat that pop around like wine corks,” he said. “They will drown. They need the ice to rest.”

Ted Miller of Memorial University in Saint Johns, Newfoundland, added that “the seals are absolutely ice dependent, and their numbers will get hammered if it goes down.”

Officials say they expect high mortality among pups this year. Some groups are even estimating that close to 100 percent of the pups will succumb due to fragile ice. (via)

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