LOS ANGELES -- A record number of shark-bitten otters have been found along California's Central Coast.
Scientists say they found nineteen injured or dead sea otters that appeared to have shark bites in August, primarily in the Pismo Beach and Morro Bay areas. Seven others with similar marks have been found so far in September.
Experts say the ten year average is about seven a month. They blame the cooler than average ocean temperatures on the increase.
Those conditions make the area ideal for great white sharks which have been reported in growing numbers in recent months.
Great white sharks do not typically feed on sea otters and prefer seals and sea lions.
Most of the injured or deceased otters have been found with a single bite mark, which would indicate the sharks are doing a sort of "taste test", according to scientists Michael Harris.
Scientists say they found nineteen injured or dead sea otters that appeared to have shark bites in August, primarily in the Pismo Beach and Morro Bay areas. Seven others with similar marks have been found so far in September.
Those conditions make the area ideal for great white sharks which have been reported in growing numbers in recent months.
Great white sharks do not typically feed on sea otters and prefer seals and sea lions.
Most of the injured or deceased otters have been found with a single bite mark, which would indicate the sharks are doing a sort of "taste test", according to scientists Michael Harris.
