Starving Sea Lion Pups Fill Calif. Rescue Centers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Scientists were performing tests to determine if the problem is food availability, disease or both.  Biologists knew last spring that this year’s supply of anchovies and sardines could be limited, Boehm said.   “These two species of fish are an extremely important part of California sea lions’ diets, and females simply may not have been able to nurse their young sufficiently, resulting in abandonment, premature weaning and subsequent strandings,” he said.