The Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and Pillar Point Harbor recently issued the following advisory for coastline visitors:

CAUTION: Sick and starving marine mammals are washing up alive and dead on local beaches.
TAKE CARE! These are stressed wild animals and can bite and transmit diseases to you and your pet.

Report strandings at once (24 hours a day):  
• Live seals/sea lions: Marine Mammal Ctr., 415-289-7325
• Dead seals/sea lions:  California Academy of Sciences, 415-379-5381

Ailing sea lion pups and seals have been found along Northern, Central and Southern California coastlines in alarming numbers this year. We will have a more detailed report, including how The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito is addressing the local situation, in
our September edition.