NBC Nightly News: Researchers Investigate Dozens of Sick Sea Lions Along California Coast
- Domoic acid
- Climate change
- Population monitoring
Aired on NBC Nightly News: August 13, 2024
At the Marine Mammal Center, volunteers are responding to nearly 150 sick sea lions that have washed up on the California coast in recent weeks. The animals are showing signs of being poisoned by domoic acid, a neurotoxin from algae that gets into the fish that the sea lions eat. NBC News' Liz Kreutz rides along with the rescuers.
Meet Our Experts
Learn More About Marine Mammal Conservation & Care
Learn More About Domoic Acid
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/2019\/cropped-images\/csl-pammysue-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-405-0-2354-1838-1603243352.jpg","alt":"California sea lion Pammysue","label":"Research Library","title":"Domoic Acid Toxicosis","link_url":"\/science-conservation\/research-library\/domoic-acid-toxicosis","type":"page"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/cropped-images\/csl-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-2-0-1031-1794-1401-1603916128.jpg","alt":"California sea lion","title":"Evaluating Sense of Smell in California Sea Lions and Relevance to Domoic Acid","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/evaluating-sense-of-smell-in-california-sea-lions-and-relevance-to-domoic-acid","label":"Research Paper","type":"publication"}
Evaluating Sense of Smell in California Sea Lions and Relevance to Domoic Acid
Read More{"image":"\/Misc\/Graphics\/domoic-acid-attack.png","alt":"Domoic Acid Attack","title":"Domoic Acid Attack","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/domoic-acid-attack","label":"Online Learning Resource","type":"publication"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/California sea lion\/cropped-images\/sea-lion-pup-shutterstock-451-142-3018-2358-1603915228.jpg","alt":"California sea lion pup","title":"Domoic Acid in Fetal Fluids of California Sea Lions","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/domoic-acid-in-fetal-fluids-of-california-sea-lions","label":"Research Paper","type":"publication"}
Yes, I want to save a life!
Yes, I want to save a life!
You’ll be giving sick and injured animals the best possible care at the Center’s state-of-the-art hospital. With your gift today, you are giving a patient a second chance at life in the wild.
See Our Latest News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Elephant seal\/cropped-images\/wild-es-ano-nuevo-photo-by-clive-beavis-159-0-1270-992-1772151576.jpg","alt":"wild northern elephant seal at ano nuevo state park","title":"Avian Influenza Confirmed in Northern Elephant Seals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/avian-influenza-confirmed-in-northern-elephant-seals","label":"News Update","date":"2026-02-26 01:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/cropped-images\/two-gray-whales-golden-gate-bridge-shutterstock-0-0-1270-992-1770234810.jpg","alt":"two gray whales under the Golden Gate Bridge","title":"The Marine Mammal Center and San Francisco Harbor Safety Committee Pilot New Vessel Operator Training Program","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/the-marine-mammal-center-and-san-francisco-harbor-safety-committee-pilot-new-vessel-operator-training-program","label":"Press Release","date":"2026-02-06 01:00:00"}
The Marine Mammal Center and San Francisco Harbor Safety Committee Pilot New Vessel Operator Training Program
February 6, 2026
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Bottlenose dolphin\/cropped-images\/dolphinphoto-by-adam-li-c-noaa-0-0-1270-992-1769539954.jpg","alt":"A bottlenose dolphin jumps out of the water.","title":"What\u2019s the Difference Between Dolphins and Porpoises? And Other Animal Trivia","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/whats-the-difference-between-dolphins-and-porpoises-and-other-animal-trivia","label":"News Update","date":"2026-01-26 23:00:00"}
What’s the Difference Between Dolphins and Porpoises? And Other Animal Trivia
January 26, 2026
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Sea otters\/2025\/cropped-images\/so-mooring-release-2-laurie-miller-c-the-marine-mammal-center-USFWS-permit-MA101713-1-147-8-1270-992-1770307740.jpg","alt":"Sea otter - Mooring","title":"Rescue Stories: Southern Sea Otter Mooring Named the 2025 Patient of the Year","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/rescue-stories-vote-for-your-favorite-marine-mammal-patient-of-2025","label":"News Update","date":"2026-01-16 10:05:08"}
Rescue Stories: Southern Sea Otter Mooring Named the 2025 Patient of the Year
January 16, 2026
Read More