Sickened Sea Lions Bite LA County Beachgoers

LOS ANGELES, CA — A toxic algal bloom sickening thousands of sea lions in Southern California is causing the animals to exhibit abnormal behavior such as aggression and even biting beachgoers, marine wildlife experts said.

The bloom releases harmful domoic acid that can be fatal to marine life. As it spreads down the coast from San Luis Obispo past Los Angeles County, reports of people at LA beaches being bitten by sea lions grew, according to Marina Mammal Care Center CEO John Warner.

Over the past three to four weeks, Warner said, the center received more than 20 reports of sea lions biting people swimming at LA beaches.

"The behavior is very much atypical of sea lions. There hasn't been a research study that definitively said this is related to Domoic Acid ... but it would be a reasonable assumption to put the two together," Warner said.

For about two weeks now, sick sea lions have been washing up on shores suffering from the effects of domoic acid, which affects a sea lion's brain and changes its behavior and its ability to react in its environment.

Sea lions affected by domoic acid can experience dehydration, seizures and even death if left untreated.

On Tuesday, health officials in Orange County shut down two beaches after people were attacked by sea lions. Warner said the timing of the busy beach summer season meeting the spread of the toxic algal bloom presented these unusual circumstances.

"When people come by them in the water, they are scared," Warner said.

In response to the recent attacks, Warner said people should be more aware of their surroundings while in the water. Warner recommended if people are bitten by a sea lion to speak with their care providers because bacteria in the animal's mouth may cause infection.

Though marine wildlife experts warned beachgoers to be cautious, they stressed aggressive behavior in sea lions is very atypical. Warner said the beloved marine animals typically don't exhibit aggression toward humans when they are not sick and much prefer napping on docks.

"I don't want people to think sea lions are the new Jaws because they're not," Warner said.