Unusually High Number of Sea Lions Stranded in Calif.

January 31,2015; 8:00AM,EST

 

 

A record number of starved sea lion pups are washing ashore along the California coast.
Officials said on average 250 stranded pups need rescuing between January and April. Since Jan. 1, marine mammal rescue centers have taken in 150 animals.
Scientists believe warmer waters caused by El Niño might shift the sea lions' food supply and force pups to leave their malnourished mothers sooner than usual.
The high numbers of stranded sea lions have forced rescue centers to prepare for a high number of incoming animals.
Sea lions. (Credit: Flickr/Allie_Caufield)
"All of the [rescue and rehabilitation] facilities are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best," said Justin Viezbicke with the National Marine Fisheries Service and coordinator of the California Stranding Network. "They're getting staffing ready, looking at transferring animals if facilities are full, sharing staffing and resources, and getting everybody ready to respond."
Rescuers said many of the pups arrive weighing just more than their birth weight of 18 to 22 pounds. Many have parasites, respiratory infections, digestive issues or a strain of pox, said Todd Schmitt, SeaWorld's senior veterinarian (Deborah Sullivan Brennan, San Diego Union-Tribune, Jan. 27).
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