Marine mammals and other animals continue to struggle with blooms of toxic algae on the Southern California coast.
Sea birds and sea lions have already been sickened by the domoic acid-producing algae, but researchers at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach have now confirmed that four dolphins were also made ill.
While sea lions and birds can be treated and released back into the wild, dolphins are often too ill, meaning scientists are often performing necropsies instead of working to treat the illness.
Dr. Alissa Deming said the first ill sea lion was reported on Feb. 24, and “after that, it seems to be slowly creeping up.”
“In the past two weeks, we’ve been intaking anywhere between four to nine patients a day, which is why our hospital is filling up very quickly,” Deming told KTLA’s Chip Yost. “We do have concerns that we’re going to reach capacity in our hospital, and that might impact to respond to animals on the beach.”
Marine mammals and other animals continue to struggle with blooms of toxic algae on the Southern California coast. Sea birds and sea lions have already been sickened by the domoic acid-producing algae, but researchers at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach have now confirmed that four dolphins were also made ill. While sea […]
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