The Marine Mammal Care Center

?? Do you know what common neurological symptoms look like in a sea lion affected with domoic acid? Look for foaming at the mouth, seizures, or side-to-side head movements and be sure to call our hotline at 1-800-39-WHALE!

?? MMCC on the front page of the LA Times! We are so in awe of our community's support during this hectic and heartbreaking time. As of this post, we have 78 animals on site, many of them are domoic acid patients; however, the elephant seal pup season is also starting. Please continue sharing and donating to save sick and injured marine mammals! Repost from LA Times: Domoic acid poisoning is stranding marine mammals as warnings are issued to beachgoers of the threat posed by animals that are transformed by their illness. As of Friday, at least 140 sea lions with symptoms of domoic acid poisoning had been taken in by the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro, according to Chief Executive John Warner. At least 50 dolphins have also been stranded on area beaches, but because they almost always die from ingesting domoic acid, they are usually euthanized. https://lnkd.in/ggdUYQ_C ??: William Liang

?? Update on the domoic acid (toxic algal bloom) crisis in Southern California. Thank you to our partners at NBC for highlighting this crucial work. Important things to know: ?? MMCC is rescuing and treating more animals than budgeted for. Your support is needed! Please share and donate at https://lnkd.in/gbJe9KUP ??Learn more about domoic acid at https://lnkd.in/gNNKw9WN. ??If you see a stranded marine mammal, stay away and call the MMCC hotline at 1-800-39-WHALE ?? Your support and advocacy makes all the difference; thank you for being an ocean hero!

?? When you're out on the beaches, keep an eye out for stranded marine mammals and remember to call our report hotline at 1-800-39-WHALE. You might also see one of our amazing Pinniped Patrol volunteers who help report animals in need and can answer any questions you might have. They will be wearing blue MMCC shirts that say Pinniped Patrol and volunteer. ?? Huge shout out to our amazing volunteer family for their dedication during this challenging time! They truly are the heart and soul of our organization.

?? Thank you for caring so much about our local wildlife affected by domoic acid. Your donations and social media shares are helping tremendously. It is going to be a long road for our team as we expect this crisis to only get worse. Thank you for your support during this challenging time ??

?? Sea lions urgently need your help! As you know, MMCC has been responding to an increased number of marine mammal strandings due to the toxic algal bloom, and unfortunately, it shows no signs of abating. This week, we saw more stranded dolphins (both alive and deceased) than we saw during the major domoic acid (DA) bloom in 2023. Recent testing in SoCal shows increased levels of the algae that produces DA, and we anticipate that it will only get worse in the coming weeks. ? ? ?? You can help! The volume of animals we are rescuing and admitting to our hospital is far more than what we have budgeted for. Our team is working heroically to respond to every call and to rescue every animal they can. Please share this post and give now at https://lnkd.in/gbJe9KUP to give these marine mammals a second chance at life! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gNNKw9WN. ? ?? Do not approach wildlife: While it is always dangerous to approach a marine mammal on the beach, sea lions affected by domoic acid can be especially aggressive, often awakening from a seizure with little notice. This is a safety issue for people and their pets as much as it is for the marine mammals. Do not push stranded dolphins back into the water as this can actually reduce their chances of survival. Please stay away from stranded marine mammals and call 1-800-39-WHALE for rescue assistance. ? ? Note on the LA fires: While we are concerned about the long-term health of marine mammals and the ocean environment due to the toxic chemical runoff from the recent fires, we believe the current situation on our coast is due solely to domoic acid toxicosis (DA) and the confirmed prevalence of Pseudo-nitzschia australis (the type of algae that produces DA) along the Southern California Coast. However, heavy rains and nitrate-rich organic runoff does feed these algae blooms and can contribute to their size and severity. DA blooms used to occur every 4-7 years. The frequency of these blooms has increased in recent years, exacerbated by climate change, warming ocean temperatures, and other human activities.

?? Please spread the word: To report sick, injured or abandoned seals or sea lions in the Los Angeles area, call our toll-free hotline (800) 39 WHALE. Please do not approach or try to pick up any marine mammals on the beach. Thank you for being an ocean hero!?

?? What to do if you encounter a live-stranded dolphin. MMCC is responding to numerous reports of dolphins affected by domoic acid in Los Angeles County. 1. Keep at least 50 feet away to minimize stress and prevent unintentional harm and give space to responders and lifeguards. 2. Call the Marine Mammal Care Center’s hotline at 1-800-39-WHALE and report your location. 3. Do not push the dolphin back into the water. Stranded dolphins often come ashore due to illness or injury and returning them to the water immediately can actually reduce their chances of survival. 4. Avoid loud sounds, keep dogs and crowds away, and speak in hushed tones. ??? Photo by our partners at LA Lifeguards

?? Please spread the word: To report sick, injured or abandoned seals or sea lions in the Los Angeles area, call our toll-free hotline (800) 39 WHALE. Please do not approach or try to pick up any marine mammals on the beach. Thank you for being an ocean hero!?

?? Please read and share! As you know, MMCC has been responding to an increased number of marine mammal strandings due to the toxic algal bloom, and unfortunately, it shows no signs of abating. This week, we saw more stranded dolphins (both alive and deceased) than we saw during the major domoic acid (DA) bloom in 2023. Recent testing in SoCal shows increased levels of the algae that produces DA, and we anticipate that it will only get worse in the coming weeks. ?? You can help! The volume of animals we are rescuing and admitting to our hospital is far more than what we have budgeted for. Our team is working heroically to respond to every call and to rescue every animal they can. Please share this post and give now at https://lnkd.in/gbJe9KUP to give these marine mammals a second chance at life! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gNNKw9WN. ?? Do not approach wildlife: While it is always dangerous to approach a marine mammal on the beach, sea lions affected by domoic acid can be especially aggressive, often awakening from a seizure with little notice. This is a safety issue for people and their pets as much as it is for the marine mammals. Do not push stranded dolphins back into the water as this can actually reduce their chances of survival. Please stay away from stranded marine mammals and call 1-800-39-WHALE for rescue assistance. Note on the LA fires: While we are concerned about the long-term health of marine mammals and the ocean environment due to the toxic chemical runoff from the recent fires, we believe the current situation on our coast is due solely to domoic acid toxicosis (DA) and the confirmed prevalence of Pseudo-nitzschia australis (the type of algae that produces DA) along the Southern California Coast. However, heavy rains and nitrate-rich organic runoff does feed these algae blooms and can contribute to their size and severity. DA blooms used to occur every 4-7 years. The frequency of these blooms has increased in recent years, exacerbated by climate change, warming ocean temperatures, and other human activities. Photo by LA Lifeguards