California sea lions are having a tough year. As you know, starving sea lion pups were stranding along the California coast in record numbers earlier this year. Now, sea lions are facing another crisis: a dangerous neurotoxin called domoic acid.

Researchers say the massive algal bloom producing this toxin is the biggest and most toxic they’ve ever seen, extending from southern California all the way up to Alaska. And it’s leaving sick sea lions in its wake. About three-quarters of our current sea lion patients are suffering from the effects of this toxin, including lethargy, disorientation and seizures.

Since discovering this condition in sea lions in 1998, our researchers have learned a lot about domoic acid toxicity and how to treat it effectively. Thanks to support from people like you, we’ve been able to successfully release hundreds of healthy patients over the years that had stranded due to this toxin.