Trial Systematic Salvage of Beach-Cast Sea Otter, 'Enhydra lutris', Carcasses in the Central and Southern Portion of the Sea Otter Range in California

摘要

Systematic walks were conducted at monthly intervals along 23-25 kilometers of non-contiguous beaches within 100 kilometers of the central and southern portions of the sea otter range in California from October 1983 through September 1984. Records were kept on all beached bird (280) and marine mammal (136) carcasses found. Twenty sea otter carcasses (1.7 per month) and one skull were located; specimens, in most cases, were recovered and necropsies were performed. Sea otter strandings were spread fairly evenly throughout the year. No definitive correlations were found between rates of sea otter carcass recoveries and any of the parameters measured during the study.