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2 children dead in West Point, older brother missing

Sea otters

Sharks may be to blame for surge in Calif. sea otter deaths

San Francisco Chronicle, Victoria Colliver

Last updated Friday, January 28, 2011 - 3:09pm

SAN FRANCISCO -- A record number of sea otter bodies were found on California coastlines last year, a trend that leaves scientists and conservationists concerned for the future of the furry ocean animals.

About 304 carcasses were found in 2010, according to preliminary numbers released by the U.S. Geological Survey. Based on a spring count of 2,719 living sea otters, those bodies accounted for 11.2 percent of the population.

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Sea otter deaths on the rise

Jenna Brogan, Santa Cruz Sentinel

Last updated Saturday, January 22, 2011 - 7:11pm

MONTEREY, Calif. -- 2010 was a hard year for California's Central Coast otters.

A preliminary report from the U.S. Geological Survey shows that 304 otters were found dead along the coast between Half Moon Bay and Santa Barbara, according to the Monterey, Calif.-based Otter Project.

When compared to the total spring count of 2,700 otters, 11.2 percent dead may not seem catastrophic, especially when compared to the 8 percent found dead in 2009. However, the jump from 232 dead otters in 2009 to 304 in 2010, makes scientists concerned for the species.

"Young pups and females died this year; if pups are dying, you have no future, and if females are dying you have no re

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