Schaaf

This patient is a northern fur seal, a species that we typically see stranding toward the end of the year. As a species that lives in the open ocean, these fur seals rarely come to shore except for when they are sick or injured.

Northern fur seals are especially sensitive to changes in their environment, as seen in the record numbers of sick or starving fur seals rescued and cared for at our hospital during years when we have seen El Niño conditions.