Work

Feral cats steal milk from northern Elephant Seals

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: "Feral cats abound at Isla de Guadalupe; they forage on birds, mice, and placental tissue as well as carcasses of northern elephant seals ( Mirounga angustirostris ), Guadalupe fur seal ( Arctocephalus townsendi ), California sea lions ( Zalophus californianus ) and stranded cetaceans such as Cuvier’s beaked whale ( Ziphius cavirostris ). We have found that feral cats are also drinking elephant seal’s milk, stealing it directly from the teats of nursing females. The amount of energy obtained this way might be significant for feral cats in the northern elephant seal rookeries on the island."

Source: Therya

DOI: 10.12933/therya-10-14

Authors: Juan-Pablo Gallo-Reynoso, Charles Leo Ortiz

Institutions: Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, University of California, Santa Cruz

Language: English

Topic: Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W2147395108

FWCI: 0.29

Cites: 6

Cited by: 2

Related to: 10