Sick or dead sea lions and dolphins wash up on California beaches

Wildlife protection agencies in Southern California have been inundated with reports of sick or dead sea lions and dolphins stranded on beaches for the past month.

Experts assume that a toxic algal bloom is poisoning the marine mammals.

“It’s completely overwhelming,” said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) strandings coordinator Justin Greenman said CNN. He called the increase in affected animals “one of the largest in history.”

Ruth Dover, co-founder of the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute, said The Guardian in an article published this week that her nonprofit receives “more than 300 reports a day” about animals in need of help.

At least 100 dolphins and 100 sea lions have been found dead, and hundreds more have apparently fallen ill as a result of eating a pseudo-Nitzschia alga.

Marine mammal rescue groups believe the algae, which produce a neurotoxin called domoic acid, is what causes the disease and death. Though scientists are still working to confirm the algae are the cause, NOAA spokesman Michael Milsten told CNN that the phenomenon has “all the hallmarks of an algal bloom.”

Warming water due to climate change can contribute to algae growth. However, in this case, according to Milstein, the primary cause seems to be that coastal upswing ― a process that occurs when winds push surface water away from shore and in turn pull deeper water up. This tends to be deeper water rich in nutrientscreating conditions for an algal bloom.

Symptoms of eating the seaweed include seizures, dehydration, and aggressive or lethargic behavior. according to the Marine Mammal Care Center in Los Angeleswhat has set up an emergency room for the growing number of affected animals.

Treatment usually includes keeping the animals hydrated, administering anti-seizure medications, and ensuring proper nutrition during recovery.

In some cases, sick sea lions have also bitten beachgoers. At least two beaches in Southern California were temporarily closed following bite incidents earlier this week, and there have been a handful of other bite reports.

“It’s not like it’s a rabid sea lion running down the beach chasing people and biting them,” says Dr. Alissa Deming of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center said the Los Angeles Times.

It’s more like sick animals react when someone gets too close.

“Either they bump into surfers if they unintentionally grab them and accidentally bite them,” she said. “If someone touches them, they can be hyper-reactive and reflexively throw their heads back. It’s not like they’re attacking – they’re in a coma, and if they’re scared or bump into something they can bite.”

She said people should take care to give sea lions plenty of space and walk dogs on leashes.