Sundrift sea lion returns to the wild after recovery
An adult female California sea lion named Sundrift was recently released back into the wild after being treated for domoic acid poisoning during the largest domoic acid outbreak in The Marine Mammal Center's 51-year history. Sundrift spent about a month receiving care at the center's Sausalito hospital, where she was treated for domoic acid poisoning, malnutrition and pneumonia. She was among more than 300 California sea lions rescued for care this year as the center documented 328 cases of domoic acid toxicosis. The majority of cases have occurred since July 1, with Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties emerging as the primary hotspots for response activity. The outbreak is well above normal levels, as The Marine Mammal Center typically rescues 75 to 90 animals annually for domoic acid poisoning across its approximately 600-mile California response range. The surge in sick animals placed significant demands on the center's largely volunteer response teams. Rescuing a single sea lion experiencing neurological symptoms can require four to six trained responders, a carrier crate weighing 50 to 100 pounds and, in some cases, a walk of more than a mile along the beach. Because the toxin affects the nervous system, affected animals can be
