More than a dozen sea lions have been reported sick over the past week in Southern California in a suspected domoic acid event, and beachgoers in Malibu are warned to avoid the distressed animals.
The California Wildlife Center, a wildlife rescue organization, said Sunday team members responded to 10 calls for “sea lions in distress over the last three days” and four more calls on Sunday morning.
The cause of the animals’ illness hasn’t been confirmed, but “their signs and the recent rains make the situation highly suspicious for domoic acid toxicity.”
This occurs when toxic algal blooms, resulting from a single-celled organism called Pseudo-nitzschia, produce domoic acid toxin. Smaller marine life like fish eat the toxic algae and can sicken bigger animals like sea lions who eat those contaminated fish, according to the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro.
In its toxic form, domoic acid damages the brain and heart, even in low doses, the California Wildlife Center warned. After consuming it, marine mammals can suffer seizures, a craning head motion known as “stargazing,” and enter lethargic or comatose states.
“These animals are suffering and confused; do not interact directly with animals such as sea lions in distress as they may lunge and bite without warning,” the center warned.
Malibu residents, visitors and beachgoers are warned to keep their distance from animals at the beach. Anyone who sees an animal in distress should call or text the center’s marine team at (310) 924-7256.
There have been concerns over the health of the shores off Malibu after January’s wildfires that razed the nearby Pacific Palisades, a community tucked on the western coast of Los Angeles, as well as the mountains to the east in Pasadena and Altadena. Heavy rain the drenched also Los Angeles this month, triggering mudslides and flooding in burn-scarred areas, including coastal areas.
An ocean water advisory is in place until further notice for a large stretch of the Los Aneles County coastline following the Palisades Fire from Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced Friday. Beach visitors are urged to stay away from fire debris and out of the ocean.
