09/02/2026
🚨 TWO WILDLIFE CRISES ARE UNFOLDING ALONG OUR COAST 🚨
Our coastline is experiencing two serious wildlife emergencies at the same time. We want our community to know what is happening, and what to do if you encounter an animal in distress.
WEAK & STRANDED COMMON MURRES
Native Animal Rescue is seeing an alarming influx of weak and emaciated Common Murres coming ashore.
Murres are pelagic seabirds, which means they belong on the open ocean. A Murre found sitting on a beach or other land should be considered an animal in distress and in need of rescue. If you find a Murre on land, please contact Native Animal Rescue immediately at 831-462-0726 and we will walk you through the steps to rescue the Murre and bring it to us. Do not attempt to return the bird to the ocean.
Warmer-than-usual ocean conditions can disrupt the marine food web. As ocean temperatures rise, prey fish may move into deeper, cooler water. Murres are exceptional divers, but when their prey becomes less accessible, they can struggle to find enough food. We are now seeing the consequences: exhausted, weakened birds washing ashore.
DOMOIC ACID POISONING IN SEALS & SEA LIONS
At the same time, seals and sea lions along our coast are being affected by domoic acid, a neurotoxin produced by the algae Pseudo-nitzschia during harmful algal blooms.
Affected marine mammals may appear disoriented, lethargic, unusually aggressive, or experience seizures and other neurological symptoms.
The marine mammal response system is currently overwhelmed, with rehabilitation facilities at or near capacity and limited ability to accept additional patients.
PLEASE GIVE WILDLIFE SPACE
With so many sick and distressed animals currently appearing along the coast, we strongly encourage people to consider avoiding affected beaches until conditions improve. Beyond being extremely difficult to witness, crowded beaches can add additional stress to already compromised wildlife.
If you encounter a sick or stranded seal or sea lion, keep yourself and pets away and contact the appropriate marine mammal rescue organization, Marine Mammal Rescue, at 415-289-7325. Never approach, touch, feed, or attempt to move a marine mammal.
We also advise visiting the kiosk, lifeguard tower or visitor center if you are at a beach and request them to put out cones for stranded wildlife until they are able to be safely rescued.
Our ocean wildlife is telling us very clearly that something is wrong right now. Please help us protect these animals by staying alert, giving them space, and reporting wildlife in distress.
