Sea lions on the California coast are reportedly displaying unusual conduct, possible attributable to a dangerous algae bloom impacting the area, based on marine researchers.
There have been studies of the marine mammals appearing aggressively in some instances, and in others, they seem torpid, Jeni Smith, rescue supervisor at SeaWorld San Diego, informed ABC San Diego affiliate KGTV. Smith described one sea lion who gave the impression to be “star-gazing.”
“Some animals appear very, very sleepy, possibly proper after having a seizure,” Smith mentioned. “They might be abnormally aggressive.”
A sick California sea lion with doable domoic acid poisoning lays on a seaside wall in Santa Barbara, California, on March 25, 2025.
David Swanson/AFP through Getty Photos
The ocean lions are possible being poisoned by domoic acid, a neurotoxin throughout the algae blooms, which they ingest via the fish they eat, based on marine consultants. Ingesting domoic acid could cause amnesic shellfish poisoning in people and marine mammals, based on the Marine Mammal Care Center.
Dangerous algal blooms happen when colonies of algae develop uncontrolled and produce poisonous or dangerous impacts on folks, based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Some blooms produce toxins that may kill fish, mammals and birds. In some instances, the algal blooms could cause sickness or dying in people, based on NOAA.
The poisonous algae blooms usually solely kind each 4 to seven years, however warming temperatures and a rise of air pollution can enhance the expansion and occurrences, based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Not too long ago, marine researchers in Southern California have witnessed consecutive years of dangerous algal blooms, Dave Bader, chief operations and training officer on the Marine Mammal Care Heart in San Pedro, informed KGTV.
A sick California sea lion with doable domoic acid poisoning is rescued to be evaluated by volunteers from CIMWI (Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute) in Santa Barbara, California, on March 25, 2025.
David Swanson/AFP through Getty Photos
The Marine Mammal Care Heart has taken in almost 150 sea lions since February, Bader mentioned. There have been studies of dolphins and seabirds falling unwell as nicely, and this occasion might be worse than the bloom that occurred in 2023, which killed 1,000 sea lions, based on the marine conservation group.
RJ LaMendola mentioned he was browsing when he was attacked at Oxnard State Seaside in Ventura County, California, by a “demonic” sea lion that bit him and dragged him off his board, he wrote on Facebook on Friday.
LaMendola described the ocean lion as “feral” and “nearly demonic.” The surfer was struck that the mammal was “devoid of the curiosity or playfulness” he often associates with sea lions, he wrote.
“This isn’t regular sea lion conduct — it’s one thing darker, one thing harmful,” he wrote, saying he will not be browsing once more “anytime quickly.”
Seaside goers with canine stroll by a California sea lion sick with domoic acid poisoning that’s giving start on a seaside in Santa Barbara, California, on March 25, 2025.
David Swanson/AFP through Getty Photos
Smith urged the general public to do their half to create a greater surroundings for marine life and forestall air pollution.
“Throwing away their trash, not permitting something poisonous to go down the storm drain, as a result of every little thing goes again to the ocean,” Smith mentioned.
