Current:Home > Contact-usSea lions are stranding themselves on California’s coast with signs of poisoning by harmful algae-InfoLens
Sea lions are stranding themselves on California’s coast with signs of poisoning by harmful algae
View Date:2024-12-23 16:47:31
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — Sea lions are stranding themselves on a long stretch of the California coast and showing signs that they may have been poisoned by a bloom of harmful algae, experts said Thursday.
The Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute said that since July 26, it has been inundated by daily reports of sick sea lions along 155 miles (249 kilometers) of shoreline in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, northwest of Los Angeles.
The marine mammals are suffering from domoic acid, a neurotoxin that affects the brain and heart, the institute said in a statement. The poisoning event is largely affecting adult female California sea lions, it said.
The nonprofit said it had rescued 23 animals so far. Coastal Vandenberg Space Force Base released photos of sea lions being rescued from one of its beaches on July 29.
The California coast commonly sees outbreaks of domoic acid poisoning, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s NOAA Fisheries.
An outbreak last year was particularly severe, with hundreds sea lions and dozens of dolphins dying in the first weeks of June.
The poison is produced by microscopic algae that are consumed by shellfish and small fish that are then eaten by sea lions, dolphins and birds. Symptoms in affected sea lions may include disorientation, head weaving, foaming at the mouth and seizures.
People can also get sickened.
veryGood! (86214)
Related
- Elon Musk responds after Chloe Fineman alleges he made her 'burst into tears' on 'SNL'
- Groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State take root on the coast of West Africa
- A top Chinese military official visits Moscow for talks on expanding ties
- Groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State take root on the coast of West Africa
- Jana Duggar Reveals She's Adjusting to City Life Amid Move Away From Farm
- Killer whales sink yacht after 45-minute attack, Polish tour company says
- A North Carolina sheriff says 2 of his deputies and a suspect were shot
- 'Really lucky': Florida woman bit on head by 9-foot alligator walks away with scratches
- Nelly will not face charges after St. Louis casino arrest for drug possession
- Nike sues New Balance and Skechers over patent infringement
Ranking
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign chancellor to step down at end of academic year
- Brazilian police search Portugal’s Consulate in Rio de Janeiro for a corruption investigation
- FDA moves to pull common drug used by pork industry, citing human cancer risk
- Underdiagnosed and undertreated, young Black males with ADHD get left behind
- Traveling to Las Vegas? Here Are the Best Black Friday Hotel Deals
- Kyle Richards Clarifies Relationship Status With Mauricio Umansky After Divorce Comment
- Stock market today: Asian shares mostly slip ahead of China-US meeting
- Jewish man dies after altercation at dueling Israel-Hamas war protests in California
Recommendation
-
Judge moves to slash $38 million verdict in New Hampshire youth center abuse case
-
Wisconsin GOP leader downplays pressure to impeach state election administrator
-
My eating disorder consumed me. We deserve to be heard – and our illness treated like any other.
-
New Apple Watch will come with features to detect hypertension, sleep apnea: Report
-
Justine Bateman feels like she can breathe again in 'new era' after Trump win
-
Juan Jumulon, radio host known as DJ Johnny Walker, shot dead while on Facebook livestream in Philippines
-
Megan Fox opens up about miscarriage with Machine Gun Kelly in first poetry book
-
US Park Police officer fatally shoots fellow officer in attempted dry fire, police say