Growing number of sick sea lions reported along Northern California beaches
APTOS, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - A growing number of sick sea lions are being reported along northern California beaches.
Experts said the mammals are suffering, and in some cases dying, from a toxic illness, and efforts are underway to rescue and treat the struggling sea lions.
It is a heartbreaking site as video taken of sick sea lions by workers at Sea Cliff State Beach and Manresa State Beach.
Sea life experts have been sounding the alarm, and now said it's clear the problem is spreading.
Scientists said blooming algae is producing intense levels of "toxic domoic acid," which is then absorbed by small fish who are then eaten by the sea lions.
People who've come into contact with some of the sick mammals said they could tell something was wrong almost immediately.
"It was just kind of rolling around in the sand just letting the waves hit it...just digging its nose into the sand every once in a while," said Ryan Rubio, a Santa Cruz resident. "Just kind of behaving kind of erratically...haven't seen that kind of behavior before."
The Marine Mammal Center said it's been getting about 300-to-700 calls a day about sick sea lions.
Around 100 sea lions have been treated in recent weeks, including 30 sea lions rescued in a single week.
It's heartbreaking work, and not always successful.
The center said it retrieved a California sea lion near Crissy Field Monday morning while it was weaving its head and having seizures. It ultimately died on the beach.
The center is waiting on tests to confirm whether it was one of the many suffering from domoic acid poisoning.
"If the Marine Mammal Center can get them in time, they can try and flush out those toxins and feed them fish that don't have the algae inside of them, so then some are able to heal but a lot of the times it's too late," said Angela Martin, a state park aide.
The center also pointed out the problem isn't new, but said outbreaks are now less seasonal and more intense.
"It made me want to make sure the ranger was on its way," Rubio expressed. "Somebody was giving it the help that it needed."
The center and state park staff are asking anyone who sees a sick sea lion to report it, but also to stay clear because their behavior can be unpredictable.
