Mystery Plague Killing Sea Stars Has Scientists Scrambling For Answers

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A mystery plague is killing sea stars along the West Coast, and as CBS2's Stacey Butler reports, marine scientists are scrambling for answers.

Sea star wasting syndrome appears to be wiping out entire populations of the creatures along Orange County's coast.

Divers from Alaska to Mexico report seeing big declines in sea star populations in local intercoastal waters.

In Orange County, marine restoration coordinator Amanda Bird reports sea star populations over the past several months have virtually disappeared.