A dolphin casualty on a California beach, in a picture from the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife InstituteToxic algal blooms are killing hundreds of sea lions and dolphins along the coast of California's southern beaches.
"Animal rescue groups are scrambling to try to get boots on the ground to get the animals protected." "They eat a meal of those highly toxic fish and then they become toxified themselves, and if they get enough of that material, it of course can kill them, which is happening now," he said. "We are doing the best we can to keep up with the intense pace," institute co-founder Ruth Dover said in a statement.
Humans may also attempt to approach larger mammals like sea lions and dolphins if they see them stranded on the beach, but the animals may become aggressive because of the toxins.