People warned not to pet sick marine animals SEA LIONS, from page 1
A poisonous algae has caused a large number of dazed and confused animals to wash ashore in Santa Monica and other Southern California beach communities in recent weeks.
Usually the algae, which is known as bridal plank- Rescuer working overtime to save poisoned sea lions ton, blooms during a two-month period each summer. However, for some unknown reason it has bloomed months early this year, catching many animals — especially sea lions, dolphins and pelicans — off-guard.
“This is unprecedented,” said Jackie Jaakola, director of the non-profit San Pedro Marine Animal Care Center. “I have treated over 150 animals in this year alone.
“Other entire years go by when we treat only 50 animals.”
When the algae blooms it releases a toxic substance called domoic acid, which is ingested by small fish like sardines. Larger animals then eat those fish and become sick.
The toxin affects the animals’ nervous systems and can cause disorientation, violent seizures, comas and death.
The substance doesn’t appear to affect people because they do not swim far enough from the mainland to come into contact with it. But scientists warned that humans can become ill after eating fish poisoned by the algae.
Compounding the problem, female sea lions usually give birth in April and May. The poisonous algae has caused some sea lions to give birth prematurely.
At the San Pedro hospital, which takes in animals from Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, veterinarians have treated hundreds of cases stemming from the poison.
The animals are given intravenous fluids and treated with heavy doses of antibiotics.
“We’re spending thousands of dollars each week treating the animals we have in-house,” Jaakola said.
Perhaps because of that, only a small number of sea lions have been lost.
“Most are surviving,” Jaakola said. “We were told to expect a 50 percent mortality rate, but thankfully it hasn’t been nearly that high.”
The Whale Rescue Team, a non-profit group that patrols Los Angeles County beaches picking up injured sea life, reported it is being inundated with sick marine life.
Peter Wallerstein, who runs the organization, said his team is getting 50-60 phone calls a day from concerned residents. Last week alone they rescued 45 sea lions.
The situation has become so severe that Wallerstein and his crew are triaging animals on the beach before deciding which ones need medical attention most urgently.
“On average, we might see a few cases a year — more in the summer time,” Wallerstein said. “But nowhere near this level.
“There has been nothing ever like this.” On Thursday morning, Wallerstein was called to an area of beach just below Strand Avenue in Santa Monica, where a pregnant sea lion had gone into a coma before reaching the shore.
Wallerstein crept into the water and pulled the giant mammal to the sand, saving her from drowning in the shallow water.
“After she came to, she waddled back into the water,” he said. “It’s sad because she’ll get sick again and wash up on the shore. Hopefully we’ll be there next time to give her another chance.”
The safest place is for a sick sea lion is the beach, Wallerstein said. The warmth from the sun and the fresh air is good for them.
However, people should not approach any sick animals, he said.
On Saturday, a woman was badly bitten by a sea lion on Venice Beach when she tried to pet it, Wallerstein said. The disorientated sea lion then charged animal control officials who were trying to subdue it Wallerstein recommended calling the Whale Rescue Team or the local animal control office.
“This isn’t Sea World, these are wild animals,” Wallerstein said. “People need to respect them. They can cause severe injury to people and children, and they have transmittable diseases.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 26, 2002. Read the original PDF.