Record death toll seen for sea otters

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Record numbers of sea otters are dying along the California coast, a situation scientists say they find alarming.

More than 300 carcasses were found in 2010, the U.S. Geological Survey's preliminary numbers state. That accounts for an estimated 11 percent of the population, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

In 2008 and 2009, 237 and 232 otters were found dead, respectively.

Also, more pups and female otters were found dead last year than in the past.

"It's a giant increase," said Steve Shimek of the Otter Project. "When you combine that with the fact this past year the spring count showed there were very few pups born, that bodes terribly for the future."

The sea mammals' numbers were on the rise until 2007, then started declining.

Tim Tinker, lead scientist on sea otter studies for the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, suspects sharks are to blame.

About 65 to 70 otter carcasses were found to have been bitten by sharks last year, he said. Sharks usually eat seals and sea lions but seem to be attacking otters, too, Tinker said. Many of the otter bodies had just a single bite wound, he said.