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Large number of dead sea lions found off the coast of California

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Dead sea lion pups are discovered off the coast of California. Researchers at the University of California at Santa Cruz are now trying to determine the cause. They say they have found over 250 dead sea lion pups off the island of Ano Nuevo in recent weeks. It is called an unusual mortality event. “It almost looks like rain sea lion cubs being picked apart by seagulls and scavengers, so it almost looks like a battlefield. It’s a little bleak,” said UCSC graduate student George Colaco. It is believed that the dead puppies were aborted prematurely. Most are almost at full maturity as puppy season begins in June. In normal years, about 700 young are born on the island, of which only about 1 or 2 are aborted. Therefore, finding and counting nearly 300 dead animals is extremely unusual, researchers say. “The ocean is changing, it’s changing in ways that we don’t fully understand,” said UCSC Institute of Marine Sciences Director Dr. Daniel Costa.Dr. Daniel Costa and his students at UCSC have collected puppy carcasses for testing and are working to determine the cause. “There is generally less fish. My best guess is that food availability has declined, the marine population in California is extremely high, so they’re already at a point where you’re pretty much at capacity,” Costa said. Costa and his team are using satellite tracking to do this Better understand the behavior of sea lions. The graphic shows that some sea lions travel as far as Baja California. “We tracked sea lions for about six years in total. In the past, “I’ve never seen movement like that, so I think they’re looking for food,” Costa said. Aside from the effects of climate change, UCSC researchers are also studying other causes, such as bird flu and pesticides. “Right now it is.” “We are conducting further investigations and keeping a close eye on the behaviors,” Colaco said. “At this point it is believed that this is widespread and similar phenomena are being observed.” “I think nature has to heal itself in this case,” Costa said. Scientists say although many sea lions have been found dead, it’s not particularly devastating yet – but if this continues over the next few years it could become a real problem.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. –

Dead sea lion pups are discovered off the coast of California. Researchers at the University of California at Santa Cruz are now trying to find out the cause.

They say they have found over 250 dead sea lion pups off the island of Ano Nuevo in recent weeks. It is called an unusual mortality event.

“It almost looks like rain sea lion cubs being picked apart by seagulls and scavengers, so it almost looks like a battlefield. It’s a little bleak,” said UCSC graduate student George Colaco.

The dead pups are believed to have been aborted prematurely. Most are close to full term, as the breeding season begins in June.

In normal years, about 700 young are born on the island, of which only about 1 or 2 are aborted. Therefore, finding and counting nearly 300 dead animals is extremely unusual, researchers say.

“The ocean is changing in ways we don’t fully understand,” said UCSC Institute of Marine Sciences Director Dr. Daniel Costa.

Dr. Daniel Costa and his students at UCSC have collected puppy carcasses for testing and are working to determine the cause.

“My best guess is that we’ve come through an El Niño event. That means the food connections are down there, less food, there’s less fish in general. My best guess, and it’s a guess, is that there’s been a decline in food availability, California marine population or an extremely high level, so they’re already at a point where you’ve pretty much reached their maximum,” Costa said.

Costa and his team use satellite tracking to better understand sea lion behavior. The graphic shows that some sea lions travel as far as Baja California.

“We tracked sea lions for about six years in total. “We have never seen this type of movement in the past, so I suspect they are looking for food,” Costa said.

Aside from the effects of climate change, UCSC researchers are also studying other causes such as bird flu and pesticides.

“At the moment more research is being done and the behaviors are being closely monitored. We’re seeing things change because it’s evolving pretty quickly,” Colaco said.

At this point, it is believed that this is widespread and similar phenomena can be observed throughout the West Coast.

“I think in this case nature has to heal itself,” Costa said.

Scientists say although many sea lions have been found dead, it’s not particularly devastating yet – but if this continues over the next few years it could become a real problem.

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