Politics & Government

Feds to Look into Recent Sea Lion Beachings

NOAA calls the spate of strandings an unusual mortality event. Sick sea lions have washed up in Orange County from Seal Beach to San Clemente.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration determined the current number of sea lion strandings warrants an investigation. The agency is calling the situation an unusual mortality event.

Rescue workers throughout Southern California have responded to nearly 900 strandings between Santa Barbara and Mexico since January, numbers that are many times above normal.

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The Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach has been inundated with sick or malnourished sea lions that people have found along the coast of Orange County, which has led to some tragic encounters, such as this week's story of a dog that mauled one sea lion to death in Laguna Beach.

PMMC Executive Director Keith Matassa recently told Patch that his facility is currently rehabilitating the largest number of sea lions -- over 100 -- that they have ever had at one time in the center's 42-year history.

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Stephanie Venn-Watson works at the National Marine Mammal Foundation in San Diego and she is part of the team looking into the problem. Researchers will examine both dead and surviving pups to see if they have anything in common.

"We'll continue to work down the typical causes known in the past, but again, really let the evidence that we find as the group's investigation continues, to drive our next step," Venn-Watson said.

Any number of things could be causing problems, said Venn-Watson, including infections, toxins or simply not enough food. 

If you see a sick or injured sea lion or seal on the beach, you're cautioned to leave it alone and call the PMMC at 949-494-3050. A rescue crew will arrive and transport the animal back to the center and give it proper care.

-- Patch Local Editor Rich Kane contributed to this report.


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