[ODFW-News] Public asked to avoid beached sea lions on Oregon beaches

[ODFW News]

For immediate release	Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Public asked to avoid beached sea lions on Oregon beaches

NEWPORT - A small spike in the numbers of California Sea Lions found
dead or sick on Oregon beaches serves as a reminder to stay away from
marine mammals on the beach.

The sea lions probably have leptospirosis, according to the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife. Leptospirosis, which can be fatal, is a
kidney infection that impairs the animal's ability to concentrate
urine. This causes the sea lions to become dehydrated. As a result, they
often beach themselves near streams to seek out fresh water.

"This disease is zoonotic so it can be transferred to humans," said
Robin Brown, marine mammal biologist for Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife. "The bacterium that causes leptospirosis is shed in the
animal's urine. As long as people do what they are supposed to do -
which is stay away from marine mammals - there shouldn't be a
problem."

While more California sea lions than normal are showing up sick or dead
on Oregon's beaches, it doesn't pose a threat to the sea lion
population.

"The National Marine Fisheries estimates there are just under 300,000
California sea lions on the West Coast," said Brown. "We believe the
population is at historic levels."

Most of that population stays in California, but about 15 percent
migrate north to Oregon in the fall and winter.

"In a normal year we might see half a dozen California sea lions die
on our beaches, most probably from leptospirosis," Brown said. "This
year there have been four or five times more than that."

The small spike is not alarming or entirely unexpected, noted Brown.
The disease seems to always be present at low levels in the population,
with occasional spikes.

"The most recent large outbreak was in 1984," said Brown. "At
that time 252 California sea lions were found dead on Oregon beaches,
which represented about 15 percent of the population that migrates
north."

Even with an outbreak of that size, Brown does not support
intervention.

"I think that would be very expensive and highly inappropriate," he
said. "It would be one thing if we were rehabilitating an endangered
species - then you'd find me on the other side of the fence - but the
California sea lion population, as a whole, is healthy."

Anyone who encounters a stranded sea lion may call the Oregon State
Police at 1-800-452-7888. They will contact the Marine Mammal Stranding
Network, which is a broad system of West Coast networks cooperating to
study the causes of marine mammal strandings, including leptosporosis.
People who make a report will be asked to provide their name and phone
number as well as the location, size and description of the animal and
its condition.

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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002