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Sick and Disoriented Sea Lions Are Washing Ashore as Toxic Threat Grips California Coast
More than 100 sea lions have been rescued since Jan. 1, and crews are fielding 300 to 600 calls a day as toxic blooms spread.
- The Marine Mammal Center has rescued over 100 California sea lions suffering from domoic acid poisoning as of early September, a surge that spokesperson Giancarlo Rulli said exceeds the center's typical annual average of 75 to 90 cases.
- Nutrient-Rich upwelling driven by warm ocean temperatures and north winds has fueled blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia, a toxin-producing algae that accumulates in fish and enters the marine food chain where sea lions consume it.
- Rescue teams face unpredictable, large animals displaying erratic, seizure-prone behavior amid call volumes reaching 600 daily, requiring specialized four-to-six-person teams equipped with 100-pound carriers to ensure safe handling.
- Experts urge beachgoers to maintain at least 150 feet of distance from distressed animals and keep pets leashed, with Rulli calling sea lions "true sentinels for ocean health" that signal broader contamination risks.
- As this once-seasonal illness becomes more unpredictable and intense, the Marine Mammal Center is coordinating with the California Department of Public Health to monitor seafood safety and investigate why outbreaks are shifting year-round.
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11 Articles
11 Articles
Sick sea lions washing up in southern Santa Cruz, Monterey counties
Over the past week, a wave of California sea lions and some fur seals have turned up on Monterey and Santa Cruz County beaches with abnormal neurological symptoms, according to the Marine Mammal Center. The animals’ symptoms are consistent with domoic acid poisoning.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution71% Center
Bias Distribution
- 71% of the sources are Center
71% Center
L 29%
C 71%
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