Photo by acacia.johnson / Field technicians traverse the steep slopes of Round Island, Alaska, to conduct a daily wildlife count of walrus and seabirds. This tiny, verdant island in Bristol Bay—part of Alaska's Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary—has been a summer home for male Pacific walrus for thousands of years. Since 1985, a state-run visitor program has allowed travelers to visit the island between May and August each year, camping in the heart of walrus habitat. Data collected about its seabirds and marine mammals—which function as climate indicator species—is some of the most consistent in the region. As Arctic temperatures rise, what happens on this tiny, remote island can provide valuable insight into what’s going on in the broader marine ecosystem. Follow the link in bio to read the full story. #walrus #alaska #walrusislands #roundisland #conservation