Pelicans learn to avoid river otters after 73 birds killed in lagoon
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.