AGE AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS FOR 2 FEMALE STELLER SEA LIONS STRANDEDON THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST

This report details the causes of death of two adult Steller sea lions , Eumetopias jubatus, stranded on the north coast of California, In Ca lifornia, as in other areas of their range, Steller sea lion abundance is declining for unknown reasons, Several theories, including death d ue to fishery interactions, commercial harvest, long-term environmenta l change, and nutritional stress have been proposed, The Steller sea l ions in this report were multiparous-aged females that died from pneum onia, Both animals also had evidence of gunshot wounds.