Swimmers Encounter Aggressive Sea Lion in San Francisco Bay, Raising Concerns About Domoic Acid Toxicity
A group of open water swimmers, known as the Blue Boobies, experienced a terrifying encounter with a persistent sea lion near Albany Bulb in the San Francisco Bay over Labor Day weekend. One of the swimmers, Teri Hudson, described the interaction as an 'attack,' though no one was bitten. The sea lion, which the swimmers named Blondie, had been observed lethargic on the beach prior to the incident. Swimmers in the area had also reported seeing several dead or ill sea lions, including a fur seal, around the same time. These observations have led to concerns that the animals may be suffering from domoic acid toxicity, a neurological poisoning that has seen a spike in cases along the California coastline. The Marine Mammal Center has noted an unusually high number of California sea lions suffering from this condition, with over 150 rescued since the beginning of the year, and more than 110 of those occurring since July 1. While domoic acid toxicity is suspected, definitive diagnosis requires testing, which was...
