Hunger May Be Driving Spike in Sea Lion Strandings

I recently read, "Hunger May Be Driving Spike in Sea Lion Strandings," by Megan Gannon. It was an article about little sea lion pups being found on the shores on South California. Nearly 1,100 have been found. Biologists are mostly clueless as why, but their best guess' are hunger. Environmental issues have killed their normal food of sardines and anchovies, so they are left with barely nothing to eat. Some have been rescued on shores and brought into captivity.

I think what's best for the pups right now is to move them into captivity. It's going to just be safer for them, older sea lions can adjust their diets easily to a new food, but it's much harder for the little sea lions. Some of the ones have been found with lice, but that is not the reason they have been washed up on shores. Some was even found with pesticides on and in them, but I think those are more secondary causes. In shelters, they can be better taken care of until they are better. Though no one can help all the sea lions still in the oceans, we can feed the ones that we can reach to make them better.

It's sad to hear this because getting food to all the animals who have been losing it is impossible. Environmental conditions have been targeting all of us, which of course includes animals. The hard part is try to help them.