In a New York Times聽Green blog post, WCS conservation biologist Joe Liebezeit describes changes to the Arctic Alaskan landscape brought about by energy development and other human activities. For more than 10 years, Liebezeit has studied breeding birds that visit the region鈥檚 vast wetlands during the brief summer season. Though the Arctic nesting grounds are vital to the birds鈥� sustenance, evidence suggests the nearby oilfields are subsidizing rising numbers of nest predators that present serious challenges to the chicks鈥� survival.

鈥淭he network of roads and pipelines connecting oil drilling platforms and supporting facilities is a virtual playground for species like Arctic foxes, ravens, and gulls,鈥� Liebezeit writes. 鈥淭hese generalist species, like the urban pigeon, are opportunistic consumers and take full advantage of garbage, roadkill and other sources of food left by mankind.鈥�