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For swimmers, the ocean has been gloriously, unseasonably warm this year. Rather than dropping into the fifties (13 - 15 Celsius) the water has stayed in the sixties. Last October I even abandoned a wetsuit to swim at Corona del Mar. It was wonderful. I felt as free as a sea lion or a seal. The temperature was about 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Unfortunately, not all sea creatures are so happy. Last weekend we hiked along the shore at Dana Point, California. Along the way, we came across three dead sea lions. Just like Goldilocks' three bears, there were a big one, a middle-sized one, and a little baby. Obviously, something was not 'just right.' Each of them lay out under the sun, on the rocks, dessicating in the sun and sending off a formidable stink.
This most recent weekend, we went whale watching. Before we saw any whales, we passed a floating sea lion carcass. The captain didn't want to stop, presumably so as not to gross us out. An hour later, we walked along the sand at San Onofre Beach. Again, a horrible stench assaulted us. By 'following his nose,' Kris located the location of the fetid body. Another rotting adult sea lion.
But perhaps saddest of all, we surprised an emaciated juvenile sunning himself on the beach. Frantically, he (or she) hopped up and began to try desperately to reach the presumed safety of the breakers. The mangy looking fur on this little fellow looked like an outfit several sizes too large for its owner. His ribs were all too obvious. Most distressing of all, the pup acted delirious and out of control. He was flopping and losing balance in his desperate stagger to get away from the scary humans.
I wished we had a fish to give it. I knew that the pup was too frightened to take it, even had we had one. I worried for him rushing out to the wild and frothy sea. So many predators out there.
But of course, he wasn't going to find any dinner while resting limply on the beach.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/waters-654580-california-coast.html
Unfortunately, not all sea creatures are so happy. Last weekend we hiked along the shore at Dana Point, California. Along the way, we came across three dead sea lions. Just like Goldilocks' three bears, there were a big one, a middle-sized one, and a little baby. Obviously, something was not 'just right.' Each of them lay out under the sun, on the rocks, dessicating in the sun and sending off a formidable stink.
This most recent weekend, we went whale watching. Before we saw any whales, we passed a floating sea lion carcass. The captain didn't want to stop, presumably so as not to gross us out. An hour later, we walked along the sand at San Onofre Beach. Again, a horrible stench assaulted us. By 'following his nose,' Kris located the location of the fetid body. Another rotting adult sea lion.
But perhaps saddest of all, we surprised an emaciated juvenile sunning himself on the beach. Frantically, he (or she) hopped up and began to try desperately to reach the presumed safety of the breakers. The mangy looking fur on this little fellow looked like an outfit several sizes too large for its owner. His ribs were all too obvious. Most distressing of all, the pup acted delirious and out of control. He was flopping and losing balance in his desperate stagger to get away from the scary humans.
I wished we had a fish to give it. I knew that the pup was too frightened to take it, even had we had one. I worried for him rushing out to the wild and frothy sea. So many predators out there.
But of course, he wasn't going to find any dinner while resting limply on the beach.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/waters-654580-california-coast.html
