Tuesday, August 7th 2018, 11:15 am AKDT
Updated:
Tuesday, August 7th 2018, 4:46 pm AKDT
By Makayla Clark
The cause behind unusual bird behavior on Alaska's coastline has scientists on high alert.
Beginning in May, wildlife officials began receiving reports of dead and dying seabirds from the northern Bering and southern Chukchi seas, including in the vicinity of the Western Arctic National Parklands.
National Park Service investigators found 100 carcasses in a 4-kilometer stretch of beach in late June, most of which were murres along the coast of the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. Although, investigators say other species were found there and in Cape Krusenstern National Monument.
Scientists say the culprit is starvation-- but they don't know why. There has been no evidence of disease, and tests are pending to determine if birds were exposed to harmful algal toxins.
A Facebook post from Alaska National Parks outlines the birds in question.
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