Abstract

GALLO-REYNOSO, Juan-Pablo  and  LEO ORTIZ, Charles. Feral cats steal milk from northern Elephant Seals. Therya [online]. 2010, vol.1, n.3, pp.207-211. ISSN 2007-3364.  https://doi.org/10.12933/therya-10-14.

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.

Keywords : Feral cats; northern elephant seal; milk; Isla Guadalupe.

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