California researchers surveyed Point Reyes lagoon 19 times and found 73 pelicans killed by otters
Along California's Abbotts Lagoon, river otters have been spotted hunting brown pelicans, resulting in the discovery of seventy-three deceased pelicans during nineteen research visits. This unexpected predation correlates with the rising otter population in Northern California. While fish are their usual fare, larger birds provide a richer source of energy. Recent reports indicate that pelicans are adapting by learning to evade the hunting otters.
