Disoriented California sea lions sickened by brain-altering toxin: ‘Not their normal selves’

A spike in sick sea lions off the Central California coast has animal specialists concerned about toxic algae they said is causing the animals to suffer from seizures and exhibit abnormal behavior.

Experts at the Marine Mammal Center said they’ve rescued 15-20 sea lions over a three-day period in Monterey County, with the majority suspected to have suffered from domoic acid poisoning found in harmful algae blooms eaten by the animals, KSBW reported. 

“Domoic acid attacks the brain and the heart causing seizures and heart failure,” a description from the center read. “If left untreated, it usually causes permanent brain damage.”

“The toxin will naturally flush from an animal’s system over time, but sea lions repeatedly exposed to the toxin will suffer longer-lasting and more serious effects,” it added.

Specialists said the toxin can cause the animals to be disoriented, suffer seizures, and display abnormal behaviors.

Giancarlo Rulli, a spokesperson for the Marine Mammal Center, told KSBW: “The vast majority in terms of a hot spot of what we’re seeing right now, are large, subadult and adult California sea lions impacted with domoic acid poisoning.”

“They may have kind of ataxic movements,” added Laura Campbell, a veterinarian with the center.

“So uncoordinated movements that we’re seeing with them all the way up to an animal that is seizing on a beach is what we’re currently seeing with our patients,”

Rulli said calls are coming into the center’s hotline daily, with reports centered on its Monterey Bay operations. 

Experts admit they aren’t sure why they are seeing a surge right now, but they are actively working to recover sick sea lions and transport them to a hospital in Sausalito hospital to get the care a they need.

“Right now we have four sea lions currently in triage right here in Castroville,” Rulli said.

Three dead sea lions were recently spotted at Moss Landing State Beach in Monterey County.

Officials said they expect the number of calls to increase and are cautioning the public to steer clear of the animals and to contact the center if they spot a sick one.

“They are not their normal selves,” Rulli said. “Wild animals are already unpredictable, and especially so when they have an algal toxin that’s impacting both their memory and cognitive portion of how they behave, but also increases potentially unpredictable behavior.”

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters