Current:Home > Invest'Unusual event': Over 250 dead sea lion pups found on California island, puzzling researchers-LoTradeCoin
'Unusual event': Over 250 dead sea lion pups found on California island, puzzling researchers
lotradecoin FAQcenter View Date:2024-12-25 12:39:43
More than 250 dead California sea lion pups have been observed at Año Nuevo Island, a small island off the coast of Northern California between San Francisco and Santa Cruz.
Patrick W. Robinson, a director at Año Nuevo Reserve, in an email to USA TODAY Thursday, said he first "observed an unusual increase in the number of aborted California sea lion fetuses at Año Nuevo Island about two weeks ago."
Approximately 50 dead sea lion pups were observed on May 7, with the number rising to 288 on May 14, based on an aerial survey, said Robinson, who is also a lecturer at UC Santa Cruz.
Editor's note: Some of these images may be graphic.
On May 16, UC Santa Cruz campus veterinarian Megan Moriarty and a local marine mammal stranding network, along with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted necropsies on several still-born pups, but "no obvious cause of death" was noted, Robinson said.
"This is definitely an unusual event, but we don't yet know the cause," Robinson said, adding that other researchers who work in the Channel Islands and Mexico have made similar observations, making it bigger than a local event.
Pups born in mid-May 'usually do not survive': Robinson
Robinson said that the Año Nuevo Island "lies at the edge of the breeding range" for sea lions and is a relatively new colony compared to the main ones in the Southern California Channel Islands. Peak pupping season for the species is mid-June, as per Robinson, and pups born in mid-May "usually do not survive."
In recent years, approximately 700 to 800 pups were born on the island, with a couple dozen stillbirths, said Robison. The wildlife expert explained that sea lion fathers are not very invested with their offspring, while mothers, who give birth to dead pups, "depart shortly after the event."
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that deals with marine mammals did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for a comment on the incident.
Is this event related to the increase in sea lions in San Francisco?
On whether this event has anything to do with the influx of sea lions at a pier in San Francisco, Robison said that "several anomalous events happening right now, and it is not clear if they are connected."
"Many pelicans have been in distress, cormorant nesting is delayed, [the] sea lions' stillbirths, and the influx of sea lions in San Francisco's Pier," Robison said.
Why it could be happening:Brown pelicans found 'starving to death' on California coast
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.
veryGood! (638)
Related
- How to watch 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' for free: Special date, streaming info
- Maná removes song with Nicky Jam in protest of his support for Trump
- Gilmore Girls' Kelly Bishop Reacts to Criticism of Rory Gilmore's Adult Storyline
- Monday Night Football: Highlights, score, stats from Falcons' win vs. Eagles
- What was 2024's best movie? From 'The Substance' to 'Conclave,' our top 10
- Kamala Harris’ silk press shines: The conversation her hair is starting about Black women in politics
- Let This Be Your Easy Guide to What the Easy A Cast Is Up to Now
- Sean Diddy Combs Arrested in New York
- 'The Later Daters': Cast, how to stream new Michelle Obama
- Railroads and regulators must address the dangers of long trains, report says
Ranking
- American who says he crossed into Syria on foot is freed after 7 months in detention
- A key employee who called the Titan unsafe will testify before the Coast Guard
- Webb telescope captures outskirts of Milky Way in 'unprecedented' detail: See photo
- Is Demi Moore as Obsessed With J.Crew's Barn Jacket as We Are?
- Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death and fled to Eastern Europe is in custody, online records show
- When's the next Federal Reserve meeting? Here's when to expect updates on current rate.
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's crossword, You've Come to the Right Place
- 2 former NYFD chiefs arrested in ongoing federal corruption investigation
Recommendation
-
How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
-
A key employee who called the Titan unsafe will testify before the Coast Guard
-
North Carolina’s coast has been deluged by the fifth historic flood in 25 years
-
Trump will soon be able to sell shares in Truth Social’s parent company. What’s at stake?
-
What Americans think about Hegseth, Gabbard and key Trump Cabinet picks AP
-
Wages, adjusted for inflation, are falling for new hires in sign of slowing job market
-
Artem Chigvintsev's Lawyer Says He and Nikki Garcia Are Focused on Co-Parenting Amid Divorce
-
Aubrey O' Day Speaks Out on Vindication After Sean Diddy Combs' Arrest