A recent study published in Current Biology noted that male sea lions that call California home are actually getting bigger, not smaller, as a result of climate change. They have shown an increase in average body size even with continued population growth, which leads to increased competition for food and resources. In the study, which […]
Tag: sea lions
Interesting Animals to Watch at the Zoo
Have you ever visited a zoo only to find that all the animals are sleeping or inside their shelters? Visiting early in the morning is a good way to help ensure the animals are active and awake, but nothing will guarantee active animals. However, no matter when you visit or what the weather is like, […]
How hair dye is helping conservation of Australian sea lion population
An innovative new project is using human hair dye on Australian sea lions at Carnac and Seal Islands off the coast of Perth to track and learn about the local population. Edith Cowan University (ECU) are jointly leading the project with Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) marine researchers, in collaboration with Department of […]
Marine Animals Found on California Beaches with Signs of Domoic Acid Poisoning
Dozens of marine animals in California are being found on beaches with signs of poisoning. The animals appear disoriented and agitated, with their heads bobbing and their mouths foaming. Officials first became concerned in mid-August when sea lions, mostly adult females, were appearing on the southern California coast with signs of poisoning. “We are responding […]
Southern resident killer whales have not been getting enough to eat since 2018
The endangered southern resident killer whale population isn’t getting enough to eat, and hasn’t been since 2018, a new University of British Columbia (UBC) study has determined. The animals have been in an energy deficit, averaged across spring, summer and fall, for six of the last 40 years—meaning the energy they get from food is […]
A rare discovery of long-term memory in wild frog-eating bats
Frog-eating bats trained by researchers to associate a phone ringtone with a tasty treat were able to remember what they learned for up to four years in the wild, new research has found. The study acquainted 49 bats with a series of ringtones that attracted their attention, and trained them to associate flying toward just […]
Mammal-eating Orcas visit the Oregon coast
There’s been a lot of buzz about a group of Orca whales spotted off the Oregon coast this week. An expert on the predators says they are regular visitors, though sometimes hard to spot. Bob Pitman is a marine ecologist with Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. […]
Orcas observed killing blue whales in ‘biggest predation event on the planet’
Killer whales truly deserve their name. They’ve been observed taking down everything from sea lions to great white sharks. And now, for the first time, they’ve been observed attacking and killing the largest animals on earth: blue whales. Scientists writing in the journal Marine Mammal Science on January 21 recorded three incidents in which orcas […]