The United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Wildlife Health Center has released a bulletin on the ongoing sea star die-off seen on the Western coast of the United States. The mortality event has been observed since June 2013 and has affected millions of sea stars of several species; Pisaster ochraceus (purple sea star or ochre starfish) and Pycnopodia helianthoides (sunflower sea star) have been especially impacted. Affected animals commonly display lesions that rapidly progress to loss of limbs and eventual disintegration. The underlying cause of the wasting-associated die-off has not yet been identified. The bulletin, with further information and regional contact points for reporting mortality events, is accessible at: http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/wildlife_health_bulletins/WHB_2013...