There’s a time bomb in the frigid waters of the Chukchi Sea off Alaska

There’s a time bomb in the frigid waters of the Chukchi Sea off Alaska. And, unless you and I can defuse it, America’s threatened polar bears could pay the ultimate price.

In less than one week, drill ships are expected to leave the Philippines on track to Alaska to start operations in the Chukchi. On July 1st, Shell Oil hopes to begin their dangerous exploratory drilling operations in the Chukchi, raising the specter of another offshore drilling disaster like the one now threatening wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico.

Help us stop an Arctic offshore oil disaster and save polar bears, bowhead whales, walrus and other Arctic wildlife. Urge President Obama, Interior Secretary Salazar and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to stop Shell’s dirty drilling plan now.

On Friday, President Obama’s 30-day moratorium on new offshore drilling activities will expire, opening the door to new exploratory drilling in the Chukchi. Even before BP stops the oil gushing in the Gulf of Mexico, the administration appears poised to let Shell begin their operations in the Chukchi.

It’s outrageous.

These Arctic waters are vital habitat for America’s vanishing polar bear populations and other Arctic wildlife, and an oil spill in the Chukchi could spell disaster for these beloved bears.

Speak out for polar bears. Send your message now.

For much of the year, the Chukchi Sea is a vast expanse of broken sea ice, sub-zero temperatures, extended storms and continuous darkness.No effective, proven technology exists to clean up oil spills in such conditions.

Coated in oil, a polar bear’s fur loses its ability to insulate, and these mighty Arctic hunters can actually freeze to death. Ingesting oil by trying to clean themselves can lead to kidney failure. And a significant oil spill in the Chukchi could decimate the ringed and bearded seals and other marine animals that polar bears survive on, causing bears to starve.

Unfortunately, it wouldn’t take a catastrophe the size of the Gulf oil disaster to devastate our polar bears.

Drilling operations break up the sea ice that polar bears need to hunt for food. Without it, they can drown or starve to death. And the noise and disruption from the operations can cause polar bear mothers to abandon their cubs. Without a mother, cubs have little chance of survival.

Take action now. Tell President Obama and Secretaries Salazar and Locke to stop Shell’s polar bear-threatening plans.

With as many as seventy thousand barrels of oil -- and perhaps even more -- are still spilling into the Gulf of Mexico, [1] the dangers of this type of offshore drilling are clear. Incredibly, Shell Oil still plans to move forward with their dangerous drilling schemes, even in the face of this unprecedented environmental catastrophe.

In fact, the same federal Minerals Management Service that approved BP’s ill-fated Deepwater Horizon well, has also been criticized by the Government Accounting Office for its handling of the Shell permits.[2]

It’s up to us to stand up for polar bears and other wildlife by telling President Obama, and Secretaries Salazar and Locke to stop Shell’s dangerous drilling plans in the Chukchi. Please take action right now.

For the Wild Ones,
Jamie Rappaport Clark
Executive Vice President
Defenders of Wildlife