Alaska’s Western stock of Steller sea lions is critically endangered. The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Lori Polasek is trying to figure out why. She and her colleagues hope that breeding sea lions in captivity will help them better understand those in the wild. Although recent sea lion pregnancies at the SeaLife Center haven’t been successful, scientists say the latest one could go exactly as planned.

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Sitka is one of the female Steller sea lions at the Alaska SeaLife Center. Photo by Sara Bernard, APRN-Anchorage.

Marine mammal scientist Lori Polasek says the research they’re doing here is pretty unique. “It’s the only breeding program in the world where we’re collecting data that hopefully will be turned around and help the population,” Polasek says.

Scientists aren’t sure why the Steller sea lion population dropped so quickly — it could be competition with fisheries, for instance, or killer whale predation. But studying how they produce successful young could be one key to building their population back up.

Right now, the SeaLife Center has two males – one large breeder, Woody, and one younger male, Pilot, who Polasek says will fill Woody’s shoes eventually.

“Pilot at three was already bigger than Woody at five,” she says. “And just wait until you see Woody. He’s an impressive sea lion.”

Woody is almost 2500 pounds. And he recently put on an extra 500 just because he shared a wall with Pilot, the younger male, and probably wanted to show him who was boss.

“As you can tell, it’s very guttural… very deep,” says Polasek as Woody lets out a bellow. “You can smell a bit of his musk coming through… Whoo! It’s almost asphyxiating, it’s so thick.”

Woody is the largest male sea lion at the SeaLife Center. Photo by Sara Bernard, APRN-Anchorage.

There are four female sea lions at the SeaLife Center, and one, named Eden, is about to give birth. Polasek says Eden’s not the most attractive sea lion – she’s a bit hard of hearing, so often cocks her head to one side, and always has a tongue sticking out. “But she is the apple of Woody’s eye. When she is on exhibit, she is his primary focus. He will breed with the other animals, but he always goes back to Eden.”

Eden is also a favorite of the trainers and researchers who work with her – in part because she exhibits some unusual behaviors, such as protecting other females when Woody gets too aggressive. There’s no evolutionary reason for this.

“For her to make that move to put herself in between the two of them has really sort of endeared her to everyone else,” Polasek says. “Here she is protecting this other sea lion. So she is really, I would say, just a special, special sea lion.”

And now that Eden is pregnant – very pregnant  – a handful of scientists, vets, and trainers are gathering for an ultrasound.  Senior veterinarian Pam Tuomi  pulls out her portable ultrasound machine, about the size of a large laptop.

Eden comes out of her private pool to lie down comfortably in what the trainers call a “chute,” a sort of metal crate without walls. While Tuomi crouches nearby with the ultrasound wand, another trainer feeds her fish.

“Okay! 120. Good normal heart rate,” Tuomi says. “This kid is big enough I can’t get a cross section of the ribs anymore.  But I think I can at least freeze the heart picture for a minute here.”

Eden’s still eating, the ultrasound looks good, and all is as it should be. Tuomi says even though it isn’t completely necessary, they’ve been doing ultrasounds every day.

“We’ve been trying to do it daily, as long as she has the patience for it, just to make us feel better. It doesn’t make any difference to her. But it’s nice for the staff to know every day that the pup still looks fine.”

Sitka is not yet receptive to Woody’s advances. Photo by Sara Bernard, APRN-Anchorage.

The fact that this pregnancy is going well is a big deal. The past two haven’t –  the first pregnant female,  Kiska, died from pancreatic cancer very late in her pregnancy. The pup died too.

“It was really devastating,” says Polasek. “To lose an animal that we we’re watching. My kids have been watching on the computer at home. My daughter for weeks afterwards said, ‘Where’s the baby, Mama?’ It just was heartbreaking.”

The second, Tasu, gave birth to a stillborn fetus last month. And so far, Polasek says that none of the scientists involved can figure out why. “It was full grown, really mature, looked great, looked in good condition, and we don’t know yet.”

While it’s difficult to lose an animal that they’ve been counting on, Polasek looks on the bright side. “Tasu, after the stillborn was past, she went back out with Woody and has bred again, so a very natural progression afterwards.”

But for now, the focus is on Eden. When asked if she could give birth any day now, researchers say it could happen any hour.

Murkowski penned a lengthy op-ed on her website recalling eating lunch with a family who visited her office. They adopted not one, not two, but four children. And by all accounts seemed like any normal family. The parents are Alaskans, one’s in the National Guard.

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“If one had gotten sick, the one who had adopted, the one was not officially recognized as a spouse, that all the love she had given those children, every ounce of parenting she had lovingly given, would have not been recognized by the law,” she said Wednesday afternoon.

That’s because the parents are both women. Murkowski said that experience, along with a growing acceptance of same-sex marriage throughout the country, forced her to reflect on her stance. She said it took her about a year to settle on her new position.

“Protection of freedom, government limitation in our lives, religious liberty; those are pretty conservative principles,” she said.

Many of her colleagues disagree. Arkansas Senator John Boozman, a fellow Republican, said a visceral issue like marriage is too serious for party principles.

“I think it’s beyond that,” he said. “I think it’s something, individuals see a deepness to this. You need to look at what’s best for families, what’s best for raising children.”

Many observers say the political debate is over, that opposing gay marriage is a losing argument. But Murkowski said the debate is far from finished and many are still wrestling with the issue.

Others have settled in opposition.

“I just think once you change the definition of marriage, you’re asking for it,” said Utah Senator Orrin Hatch.

Just two months ago, the Republican National Committee affirmed its opposition to gay marriage.

Murkowski, who supported Alaska’s constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage in 1998, sought the advice of Republican Senator Rob Portman. She wanted to know how his Ohio constituents reacted when he announced his support for gay marriage in March.

She’s not looking to lead the GOP on the issue.

“I did not make the announcement I did in an effort to start a parade. I felt it was important to be honest and clear with Alaskans on where I stood,” she said.

The announcement comes in advance of what is sure to be a major national dialogue on the issue. The Supreme Court is set to rule on two gay marriage cases as early as Thursday.

With only two decision days left for the Supreme Court, rulings that could impact same sex marriage could come as early as tomorrow. But for same sex couples in Alaska right now, the only option is to head out of state if they want to get married and some say that’s not likely to change anytime soon.

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Some relief from the heat is in the forecast, followed by even hotter weather. National Weather Service forecaster Carey Freeman in Fairbanks says high pressure that’s brought record warmth to mainland Alaska this week will be briefly interrupted this weekend.

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Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan says he will seek the job of lieutenant governor.

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The mayor in a statement early Wednesday morning says he’s running because of his love for Alaska and desire to serve the state during a challenging time in history.

Sullivan says that in four years as mayor, his administration has restored the fiscal health of the city while keeping a lid on property taxes.

The Republican says Anchorage is one of the few cities that has seen its bond rating upgraded.

Glacier Bay Lodge may shut down after this season. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve put out a prospectus for concession services in January but received no bids by the March 26 deadline. Closing Glacier Bay Lodge could have rippling effects on the economy of Gustavus.

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The Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor is proposing a new deal that would allow Chena Hot Springs to expand. But first it has to be approved by the assembly. It’s unclear whether assembly members will support it.

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Individual news stories are posted on the APRN news page. You can subscribe to APRN’s newsfeeds via email, podcast and RSS. Follow us on Facebook at alaskapublic.org and on Twitter @aprn

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Murkowski Endorses Gay Marriage

Peter Granitz, APRN – Washington DC

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski announced her support for gay marriage today. She’s now the third Republican in the Senate to do so.

Alaska Couples Await Supreme Court Decision On DOMA, Prop 8

Heather Bryant, KTOO – Juneau

With only two decision days left for the Supreme Court, rulings that could impact same sex marriage could come as early as tomorrow. But for same sex couples in Alaska right now, the only option is to head out of state if they want to get married and some say that’s not likely to change anytime soon.

Sullivan Says He Will Run For Lieutenant Governor

The Associated Press

Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan says he will seek the job of lieutenant governor.

The mayor in a statement early this morning says he’s running because of his love for Alaska and desire to serve the state during a challenging time in history.

State To Receive Brief Relief From Heat Wave

Dan Bross, KUAC – Fairbanks

Some relief from the heat is in the forecast, followed by even hotter weather.  National Weather Service forecaster Carey Freeman in Fairbanks says high pressure that’s brought record warmth to mainland Alaska this week will be briefly interrupted this weekend.

Steller Sea Lion To Give Birth To New Pup

Sara Bernard, APRN – Anchorage

The world’s Steller Sea Lion population has dropped dramatically over the past few decades, making the population of Alaska’s Western stock critically endangered. The Alaska SeaLife Center’s Lori Polasek is trying to figure out why. She and her colleagues hope that breeding sea lions in captivity will help them better understand the wild population. Recent sea lion pregnancies at the SeaLife Center haven’t been successful, but researchers are hopeful the latest one might go exactly as planned.

Glacier Bay Lodge May Shut Down

Lisa Phu, KTOO – Juneau

Glacier Bay Lodge may shut down after this season. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve put out a prospectus for concession services in January but received no bids by the March 26 deadline. Closing Glacier Bay Lodge could have rippling effects on the economy of Gustavus.

New Deal Proposed For Possible Chena Hot Springs Expansion

Emily Schwing, KUAC – Fairbanks

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor is proposing a new deal that would allow Chena Hot Springs to expand. But first it has to be approved by the assembly. It’s unclear whether assembly members will support it.