Environmental Implications - Snow Geese

This species migrate to the 1002 region of ANWR every year for two to four weeks before continuing on a 1300 mile journey to Northern Alberta.  Their time spent on the north slope is critical to their survival since they need to store nutrients for their long migration path.  As many as 500,000 species migrate to the region each year (Hupp et al, 2002).  These birds are herbivores, feeding on cotton grass.  A major predator is the arctic snow fox.  The North Slope supports over 60% of the Pacific population (National Research Council, 2003).

(Photo: www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/arctic/Abirds.html)

Critical Time Periods
Lesser snow geese migrate to the 1002 region late August to mid-September

(Hupp et al, 2002) Density Distribution of Lesser Snow Geese
(Map: Jerry W. Hupp, Donna G. Robertson, and Alan W. Brackney, Artic Refuge Coastal Plain Terrestrial Wildlife Research Summaries, http://www.absc.usgs.gov/1002/section9.htm)

Reference:
1.    Hupp, Jerry W., Donna G. Robertson, and Alan W. Brackney. (2002). Arctic Refuge Coastal Plain Terrestrial Wildlife Research Summaries, http://www.absc.usgs.gov/1002/section9.htm
2.    National Research Council. (2003). Cumulative Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on Alaska's North Slope.  Washington: The National Academics Press, 2003.