Sick Sea Lions Invade
Steamer Lane 0
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Forced to go further inland in search of food and shelter, sick sea lions are invading the Central Coast, including one popular surfing spot.
Too weak to fight for a spot on seal rock, many seal pups are finding refuge on the cliffs and rocks of Steamer Lane.Scientists aren’t exactly sure why so many young sea lions are being found sick and starving, but one theory is that early signs of an El Nino weather pattern may be to blame.”Maybe there’s been so much upwelling, nutrients are carried further offshore,” said Guy Oliver, of the Institute of Marine Sciences at UC Santa Cruz. “It’s literally impossible for young to get to where normal prey is.”Some of those who surf at Steamer Lane said the sea lions have taken over certain jump-off points on the cliffs, forcing sea lions and surfers to co-exist at the beach.”We just jump from whatever part of cliff we can, to try and not disturb the sea lions,” surfer Guillermo Yanez said.John Hunter said that in his 20 years of surfing he has never seen the sea lion population migrate so close.”(We) respect them because it is their ocean,” Hunter said. “Hopefully, they get better and clear and as the season changes and it gets better for them and surfers.”Even though they are residing on the rocks, and within an arm’s reach of humans, Oliver said people should keep their distance since the proximity puts extra stress on the sea lion pups.”We can’t help them — we can help a small population, (but) we have to recognize that a significant number of last year’s pups are going to die,” Oliver said.Many marine sanctuaries up and down the coast, meanwhile, that have been taking in sick and hungry sea lions said they are now over capacity.
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