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When break up of the land fast ice (sea ice along the coast) is early, the lactation period for seal pups at the edge of the breeding habitat may be interrupted. Mother-pup pairs depend on the stable ice for their lairs, for a successful (typically 6 week) nursing period. In 1998, break-up of the sea ice was approximately 3 weeks early in the Beaufort Sea region, and this probably led to an abrupt end of the nursing period. However only those pups that were unfortunate enough to be at the edge of the breeding habitat would have been affected by this event. Wasted, skinny and stunted seal pups were found, by scientists and seal hunters. By examining the stomach contents of these pups, it was found that they had been attempting to feed themselves (invertebrates and Arctic cod), but at an earlier stage than usual. It is not known if these unweaned pups would have survived or not, nor do we know the long-term consequences of the early break up of the sea ice on the seal population. The range of conditions of seal pups in 1998 is shown below.
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