Rescue organization ‘inundated’ with calls of sick sea lions on California coast
“Harmful algal bloom” is leading to a rush of calls about sick sea lions on the California coast.
Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute, a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit, said it has been “inundated with reports” since Monday, Aug. 15.
“Our volunteer team has been working from sunrise to sunset to respond to each report and the animals in distress,” the nonprofit wrote on Instagram. “We are responding to 50-100 calls a day with multiple reports on individual animals.”
The animals, which are largely adult female California sea lions, are suffering from domoic acid poisoning, according to the organization.
Domoic acid is produced in phytoplankton, or “tiny floating plants,” by the algae Pseudo-nitzschia, the organization said in its post. Though naturally occurring, it becomes harmful with “extreme growth,” or “harmful algal bloom.”
“This neurotoxin accumulates in small fish, like sardines and anchovies, which are then eaten by sea lions in large quantities,” according to the Marine Mammal Center.
The toxin can cause seizures and heart failure, according to the center. If untreated, it can cause “permanent brain damage.”
Some signs of domoic acid poisoning include “muscle spasms, seizures, inability to move out of the water, unresponsiveness and potentially death,” according to the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute. Acute domoic acid poisoning can subside after 72 hours.
“There is no known cure for Domoic Acid,” the nonprofit said.
With some domoic acid poisoning cases, the animal rescue organization said it removes sea lions from the beach.
In other cases, however, the organization leaves the sea lion on the beach to “give the animal space and time to work through the acute phase of the toxin,” the organization said, adding that it continues to monitor the animal.
The organization warned those who come into contact with a “marine mammal in distress” to keep their distance, at least 50 feet, and call its hotline at 805-567-1505.
“Please be patient with our volunteer organization as we are stretched thin responding to each of these reports, watching over these animals and spending time educating beachgoers,” the organization said.
This story was originally published August 23, 2022 at 1:15 PM with the headline "Rescue organization ‘inundated’ with calls of sick sea lions on California coast."
