Environmental Issues Problems Photos

Brown pelican flying while entangled in plastic bag wrapped around its neck. I believe the pelican probably became entangled in the bag by mistaking the floating plastic for food and diving on it, spearing it in such a way that the bag has lodged around the pelican's neck.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40093  

California sea lion wounded from entanglement in fishing line, La Jolla.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 35156  

Steller sea lion entanglement, line wrapped around the sea lion's neck, injury and infection from the wound can weaken and kill the animal, Norris Rocks, Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Species: Steller sea lion, Eumetopias jubatus
Location: Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Image ID: 32668  

California sea lion entangled in fishing line, deep laceration around neck, Point La Jolla.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40486  

North Pacific humpback whale showing extensive scarring, almost certainly from a boat propeller, on dorsal ridge. This female North Pacific humpback whale was first seen with the depicted lacerations near the island of Maui in the Hawaiian Islands in the mid-90s, and is the original humpback to bear the name 'Blade Runner'. This female has apparently recovered, as evidenced the calf she was observed nurturing. A South Pacific humpback whale endured a similar injury in Sydney Australia in 2001, and bears a remarkably similar scar pattern to the above-pictured whale.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 05909  

A California brown pelican entangled in a plastic bag which is wrapped around its neck. This unfortunate pelican probably became entangled in the bag by mistaking the floating plastic for food and diving on it, spearing it in such a way that the bag has lodged around the pelican's neck. Plastic bags kill and injure untold numbers of marine animals each year.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 22562  

Female California Sea Lion with Severe Fishing Line Entanglement Injury, in the Coronado Islands, Baja California, Mexico. The line is buried in the sea lion's tissue so far that is difficult to see. It is possible this synthetic line will continue to cut into the skin of this sea lion until it succumbs to infection or blood loss. I have never seen any marine mammal rescue teams at the Coronado islands and suspect this poor animal will not live long.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 39959  

California sea lion with scar around neck from monofiliment fishing line entanglement at Los Islotes in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 31234  

California sea lion entangled in fishing line, deep laceration around neck, Point La Jolla.
Species: California, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 37835  

A small harbor seal pup only a few hours old, resting on a sand beach in San Diego between episodes of nursing on its mother.
Species: Pacific Harbor Seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40218  

Brown pelican, entangled in monofilament fishing line, showing winter mating plumage colors.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 28966  

California sea lion injured by fishing line, at Los Islotes in the Southern Sea of Cortez.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 27419  

California sea lion, with monofiliment cut, on the Monterey Breakwater.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 00958  

Humpback whale, abandoned calf alongside University of Hawaii research boat. This young calf lived only a few days after being abandoned or separated from its mother, and was eventually attacked by tiger sharks.
Species: Humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 05979  

California sea lion with serious laceration wound on its hind quarters, La Jolla.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40484  

California sea lion entangled in fishing line, deep laceration around neck, Point La Jolla.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40493  

California sea lion entangled in fishing line, deep laceration around neck, Point La Jolla.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40495  

Pacific Harbor Seal Mother and Pup on the Beach in San Diego. They will remain close for four to six weeks until the pup is weaned from its mother's milk.
Species: Pacific Harbor Seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40214  

Pacific Harbor Seal Mother and Pup on the Beach in San Diego. They will remain close for four to six weeks until the pup is weaned from its mother's milk.
Species: Pacific Harbor Seal, Phoca vitulina richardsi
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40224  

California sea lion wounded from entanglement in fishing line, La Jolla.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 35157  

California sea lion entangled in fishing line, La Jolla.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 34278  

Ocean sunfish injured by boat prop with cleaner fishes, open ocean, Baja California.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Image ID: 06410  

Ocean sunfish injured by boat prop with cleaner fishes, open ocean, Baja California.
Species: Ocean sunfish, Mola mola
Image ID: 06411  

Humpback Whale entangled in fishing gear, aerial photo.
Image ID: 38109  

A California brown pelican entangled in a plastic bag which is wrapped around its neck. This unfortunate pelican probably became entangled in the bag by mistaking the floating plastic for food and diving on it, spearing it in such a way that the bag has lodged around the pelican's neck. Plastic bags kill and injure untold numbers of marine animals each year.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 22564  

Brown pelican flying while entangled in plastic bag wrapped around its neck. I believe the pelican probably became entangled in the bag by mistaking the floating plastic for food and diving on it, spearing it in such a way that the bag has lodged around the pelican's neck.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, Pelecanus occidentalis
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40106  

California sea lion entangled in fishing line, deep laceration around neck, Point La Jolla.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40489  

California sea lion entangled in fishing line, deep laceration around neck, Point La Jolla.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40494  

California sea lion entangled in fishing line, deep laceration around neck, Point La Jolla.
Species: California, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 37830  

California sea lion entangled in fishing line, deep laceration around neck, Point La Jolla.
Species: California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 39054