Starvation
Compounding that, said Cordero, is the possibility that a bumper crop of pups born last year might be upping the competition for food now that they’re yearlings. And when they get weak, the current carries them onto whatever beach is nearby.
The large number of strandings is not unheard of, he said. In 1998, 3,000 young California sea lions were stranded. And it’s not a crisis, yet, he said. There are about 325,000 of the species.
“It’s bad for the individual animal,” he said, “but population-wise, it’s a blip.” He said what people really ought to be worrying about, and investigating, is if, and why, there’s been a shift in fish distribution.
Back up in Crescent City, Dr. Dennis Wood — who founded the Northcoast Marine Mammal Center 24 years ago — offered some advice for those who discover a live, weak sea lion on the beach.
“Stay away,” he said. “Don’t pick it up. Don’t put water on it. Don’t offer it food — because that might subject it to habituation to humans,” which makes it harder to survive in the wild.
And call the center — 707-465-6265 — so it can arrange a rescue. As for that, Wood said, the center could use some more volunteers, especially from Humboldt. And donations — it can cost $6 a day in fish to feed one sea lion yearling.
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on the cover
Railroad!
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Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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