Overview

• Officials say nearly 400 marine mammals have stranded or fallen ill on the Central Coast since late June, with more than two-thirds dying.
• The Marine Mammal Center reports at least 375 leptospirosis cases since July 1 plus more than 50 earlier this year, with the heaviest activity in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.
• This year’s outbreak began more than a month earlier than typical cycles and has exceeded past events in scale, with responders noting the mortality may be even higher than usual.
• Volunteer rescue networks are fielding daily calls and treating animals with antibiotics and supportive care, though some are humanely euthanized when recovery is unlikely.
• Researchers are probing disease drivers and reservoirs as algal toxins, prey shifts and a developing Pacific heat wave add stressors, while NOAA’s funding and operations face disruptions and the public is urged to keep dogs away from sick wildlife.