Unicorns of the sea are adapting to climate change, but it may put them at risk: Narwhals have been delaying their seasonal migration to adapt to the effects of climate change, which leaves them at risk of being trapped if extreme weather events occur suddenly, according to new research by the University of Windsor.

Migration plans derailed: The whales are a migratory species that spend summer months in coastal areas devoid of ice, then move to deeper waters between late September and mid-November. The findings suggest the horned water mammals have been acclimatizing to stalled ice formation in Arctic waters by delaying their migration by nearly 10 days each decade — that racks up a total delay of 17 days since tracking began in 1997. While the adaptation to their environment is a good sign, it could put narwhals at risk as extreme weather changes become more frequent, leaving them vulnerable to getting trapped in “landfast ice” — ice attached to the coastline which prevents the animals surfacing for air — and potentially killing off hundreds, the study’s authors warn.