More than 400 marine mammals have been reported stranded or sickened along California’s Central Coast since June.

They are living with a leptospirosis outbreak, toxic algal blooms and massive changes in Pacific food availability.

The combination raises questions about whether some ocean environments are becoming uninhabitable.

DAVENPORT, Calif. — On a spit of sand 12 miles north of Santa Cruz, a small, emaciated sea lion lay on its side. The only sign of life was the deep press of its flippers against its belly, relaxing for a few seconds, then squeezing again.

“That’s a classic sign of lepto,” said Giancarlo Rulli, a volunteer and spokesperson with the Marine Mammal Center, pointing to the young animal’s wretched self-embrace. The corkscrew-shaped bacteria, leptospirosis, causes sev

See Full Page