Spike in Sick Sea Lions Along Calif. Coast Puzzles Scientists

sea-lion-pup
Sea Lion pup. Photo source: Lieutenant Elizabeth Crapo / NOAA Corps.

Excerpts;

Sickly, emaciated sea lion pups have been turning up on California’s coastline in unusually high numbers since January, with live strandings nearly three times higher than the historical average…

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2013 California Sea Lion Unusual Mortality Event in California, NOAA
Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (as amended), an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) has been declared for California sea lions in California from January 2013 through the present.

Beginning in January 2013, elevated strandings of California sea lion pups have been observed in Southern California (Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties). The area with the highest reported stranding rates is currently Los Angeles County, followed by Orange County, and strandings are increasing in San Diego County.

The increase of sea lion strandings continues and has intensified over the last few weeks. Live sea lion strandings are nearly three times higher than the historical average…

FAQs on investigation of the ongoing California sea lion

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