We have completed maintenance on DiscoverMagazine.com and action may be required on your account. Learn More

Beware the Deranged Sea Lions

Discoblog
By Amos Zeeberg (Discover Web Editor)
Nov 29, 2006 5:00 AMNov 5, 2019 8:41 AM

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

This recent AP morsel might appear to be your average tale of dog bites man, except with the twist that "dog" is replaced with "sea lion." And that part alone is a good enough story: sea lions gone wild, nibbling on Alaska fishermen, chomping on Southern California beach bums, horrifying Midwestern tourists in San Francisco, etc.

But what makes this story especially good—we're talking DiscoBlog good—is the theory that these sea lions might be acting out because they're brain damaged. Scientists at the Marine Mammal Center say these sea lions might have eaten fish that might have eaten toxic algae that might have bloomed because of agricultural fertilizers that might have run off into the ocean. This may sounds a wee bit speculative, but apparently the center treated 200 sea lions who were poisoned by domoic acid from toxic algae last year.

And the fear of renegade sea lions could make perhaps the strangest argument ever for eating organic produce.

1 free article left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

1 free articleSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.