Community wonders about cause of illness.
Observation: A medium sized sea otter hauled out on the beach and was in obvious distress, very sick and gasping for air. It did not appear to have been injured, but the eyes were glossed over, and it was barely moving. It appeared to be a bit thin (backbone visible). The animal was unable to go back in the water and died on the beach. The carcass was not salvaged. This sea otter was the first we have seen like this. There has however, been some cod and sea birds washing up. A video and photos were taken. We wonder whether the PSP levels could be high and causing illness in this or other sea otter. The temperatures (air and water) are much warmer than normal.
March 2, 2016. Another dead sea otter on the beach today! Observation pending.
LEO Comment: The cause of illness will be difficult to determine without a necropsy, so collection of the second animal will be important. The video for this post is pending. A recent observation about sea otter death (Enhydra lutris) was reported by Chris Price in Unalaska on December 31st. There have been widespread die-off of sea otter over the past year in Kachemak Bay area. This event may or may not be related. You can read about this in the Alaska Public Media story Kachemak sea otter deaths under investigation; Authorities seek public’s help.
Dead or dying sea otters and other marine mammals should be reported to the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Marine Mammal Stranding Network hotline at 888-774-SEAL (7325). A link to the website including observation guidelines is provided here. This event was shared with the Alaska SeaLife Center Staff and also the Alaska Sea Grant, Marine Advisory Program Agents in Unalaska and in Dillingham. M. Brubaker
Resource: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. Journal | Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 40 (2015) 1-17 | Pathogenesis of Streptococcus infantarius subspecies coli Isolated from Sea Otters with Infective Endocarditis
