Hungry Sea Lion Pups Are Showing Up on San Francisco Streets

[arcane1]

Yesterday, animal-rescue workers netted a sea-lion pup holed up under a car in San Francisco's Marina District.

"Rubbish," as the critter's named, is now safe and chilling in a pool at the Marine Mammal Center. It's his second time there, having been rescued once before just a couple months ago. Since his last visit, the animal has lost a significant amount of weight and looks to be malnourished.

This is at least the second young sea lion of 2015 to venture into the city's streets. In February, a yearling was rescued from a lake about half a mile away from the Pacific Ocean. That little guy, called "Persevero," was reportedly underweight by 50 pounds. A park ranger quoted by ABC 7 said, "It definitely looked scared and definitely looked thin."

The Marine Mammal Center says it's taken in roughly 1,100 animals this year—"more patients than we did during the entirety of 2014, and we are on pace to break every record set in our 40 years." So what's behind this troubling uptick in rescues?

It's partly due to a scarcity of food. Abnormally warm ocean-surface temperatures are thinning or driving away many of their favorite prey. Overfishing is also playing a role, with sardine populations plummeting 72 percent since 2006. That's left sea lions and other large predators scrambling to find grub, even if it means crossing a dang highway.

http://www.citylab.com/weather/2015/05/hungry-sea-lion-pups-are-showing-up-on-san-francisco-streets/392039/

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. The term "tipping point" is going to become obvious to folks much faster than they realize.

Humans have become like a cancer on Mother Earth.

[arcane1]

2. Sadly, it will become obvious in hindsight :(

[City Lights]

3. I couldn't agree more.

[enough]

5. That photograph had me thinking exactly the same thing. (nt)

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. kick

[BrotherIvan]

6. That is the saddest thing

Dear Lord, what have we done?

[Arugula Latte]

7. Gawd, this is so sad ... these pups are the canaries in the coal mines.

I wish they hadn't named the poor guy "Rubbish" too.

[frylock]

8. mix in the depletion of apex predators that would normally help control sea lion populations..

that picture is heart wrenching.

[Eleanors38]

9. Stay local. Shoot your food. Catch your food.

[closeupready]

10. Earth will recover after we've departed, in whatever way that happens.

[arcane1]

11. Sometimes I think Earth is wondering what's taking us so f-ing long

[closeupready]

12. You gotta wonder - dinosaurs ruled for 100's of millions

of years - and exist STILL in the form of chicken, lol -- but our species has existed for a mere fraction of that time, and yet, we continue to metaphorically 'shit where (we) sleep' as if we don't care if we continue to thrive or if we die out.

Scientists say how stupid the dinosaurs were - but is spewing excess carbon dioxide into the air supposed to be evidence of our superior intellect??

[dreamnightwind]

13. They will have to compete for food with all the homeless humans

Seriously, though, there is a real problem going on in the ocean and it's about to get a lot worse:

Super El Nino Likely as Huge Warm Water Wave Hits West Coast, Extreme Marine Die Off Developing

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/04/30/1380954/-Super-El-Nino-Likely-as-Huge-Warm-Water-Wave-Hits-West-Coast-Extreme-Marine-Die-Off-Developing?detail=email

I go to the Marine Mammal center now and then, my son and his mom have been there even more. It's wonderful. If anyone has extra money that needs a good home they can probably use the donations, they aren't used to this many patients.

[arcane1]

14. Thank you!!! http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/

I'll pass this info along too!!!

[Duppers]

15. thanks!

KnR whole thread.

[AtomicKitten]

16. The little fella looks forlorn, like he's just given up.

Heartbreaking.