Red tide leads to hundreds of sick and dying dolphins and sea lions in California 

An algae bloom is poisoning the marine mammals

A severe red tide is causing hundreds of sick and dying sea lions and dolphins to wash up on Southern California beaches. The Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute says over 100 sea lions and over 100 dolphins have died in the Santa Barbara area due to poisoning from domoic acid from algae blooms.  

Wildlife rehabilitation centers have been trying to keep up with an influx of sick animals. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says seasonal outbreaks of domoic acid poisoning are common along the California coast, and certain conditions favoring the algae can lead to more widespread outbreaks.  

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Header Image: Red tide is causing hundreds of sick and dying marine mammals to wash up on the California coast. Credit: Staci Kaye-Carr, Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute