The rapid growth of harmful algae along parts of the Southern California coast is producing high concentrations of a toxin that affects California sea lions. It has led to strandings of more than 60 of the marine mammals since mid-August. Many have acted erratically, suffered from seizures, and in some cases died.
Volunteer responders have been fielding about 100 calls about sick sea lions every day, said Ruth Dover, Managing Director of Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute in Santa Barbara. The Institute responds to marine mammal strandings in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties…