USA Today: Cat Poop May Be Killing California Sea Otters
- Species conservation
- Toxoplasmosis
Toxic parasite presents 'scary new challenge'
Published in USA Today: March 22, 2023
A toxic parasite "very different from anything" experts have seen before has killed four California sea otters and they're concerned it could spread to other marine life and even humans.
Melissa Miller with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife routinely examines dead sea otters as part of a decades-long state effort to help the recovery of the threatened species.
But when she examined one dead otter in February 2020, she immediately knew she was seeing lesions she hadn't seen before. Since then, three other dead otters have been found infected with a rare and deadly form of a common parasite found in cats, other animals and humans.
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\/Patients\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2025\/cropped-images\/d-ru28release-exam-at-ke-kai-ola111025photo-by-giancarlo-rulli-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-24359-0-0-1270-992-1764620886.jpg","alt":"","title":"Bird Flu Vaccine Trial Offers Hope for Protecting Hawaiian Monk Seals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/bird-flu-vaccine-trial-may-offer-hope-for-protecting-hawaiian-monk-seals","label":"News Update","date":"2025-12-01 08:13:00"}
Bird Flu Vaccine Trial Offers Hope for Protecting Hawaiian Monk Seals
December 1, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Hawaiian monk seals\/2021\/hms-pp08-by-sheila-latta-c-the-marine-mammal-center-noaa-permit-18786.jpg","alt":"Hawaiian monk seal","title":"The New York Times: Inside the Bird-Flu Vaccine Trial for Monk Seals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/the-new-york-times-inside-the-bird-flu-vaccine-trial-for-monk-seals","label":"In the News","date":"2025-12-01 01:00:00"}
The New York Times: Inside the Bird-Flu Vaccine Trial for Monk Seals
December 1, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Sea otter\/so-wild-morro-bayphoto-c-brian-simuro-20.jpeg","alt":"Sea otter and pup","title":"Watch a Sea Otter Pup Reunite With Its Mother","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/watch-sea-otter-pup-reunite-with-its-mother","label":"News Update","date":"2025-11-14 10:35:41"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Sea otter\/sea-otter-photo-c-brian-simuro.jpeg","alt":"Sea otter","title":"AP News: Baby sea otter is reunited with mother in central California after dramatic rescue","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/ap-news-baby-sea-otter-is-reunited-with-mother-in-central-california-after-dramatic-rescue","label":"In the News","date":"2025-11-14 09:46:34"}
AP News: Baby sea otter is reunited with mother in central California after dramatic rescue
November 14, 2025
Read Moretoxoplasmosis
Cara Field
Southern Sea Otter