Guadalupe fur seals dying at an alarming rate off California coast - Los Angeles Times

Guadalupe fur seals are washing up sick and dead at alarming rates along the California coast this year, prompting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this week to declare an “unusual mortality event” for the animals.

Eighty fur seals have been found stranded along the state’s coast since January, which is about eight times more than normal, officials said. Of those, 42 were dead. But most of the seals found alive were severely emaciated, and only 16 of those 38 were able to be rehabilitated and released back into the ocean, said Justin Viezbicke, an NOAA Fisheries stranding coordinator.

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