A local wildlife rescue agency is being inundated with sick and dying seagulls.
International Bird Rescue, a nonprofit located in San Pedro, posted on social media that experts there are treating an “unusual surge” of sick and dying Western Gulls found along the SoCal coast “from Venice and Malibu to Redondo Beach and the South Bay.”
More than a dozen sick gulls have been received at International Bird Rescue since July 25, and at least three of them tested negative for bird flu. Test results for other birds that have arrived more recently are still pending.
“Affected gulls are arriving with symptoms that include dehydration, difficulty standing, partial or complete paralysis, confusion, difficulty blinking, and, in the most severe cases, respiratory distress,” International Bird Rescue said on Tuesday. “Some birds have been found dead on beaches.”
The organization did not disclose exactly how many birds have died in connection with the uptick.
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An “unusual surge” of sick and dying Western Gulls found along the SoCal coast is inundating a local wildlife rescue facility. (Credit: Ariana Gastelum/International Bird Rescue) -
An “unusual surge” of sick and dying Western Gulls found along the SoCal coast is inundating a local wildlife rescue facility. (Credit: Ariana Gastelum/International Bird Rescue) -
An “unusual surge” of sick and dying Western Gulls found along the SoCal coast is inundating a local wildlife rescue facility. (Credit: Ariana Gastelum/International Bird Rescue) -
An “unusual surge” of sick and dying Western Gulls found along the SoCal coast is inundating a local wildlife rescue facility. (Credit: Ariana Gastelum/International Bird Rescue)
The most common sign of a gull or another seabird in distress is if they have difficulty walking or standing, or if they let humans approach them. Anyone who sees a bird exhibiting these symptoms is urged to contact their local animal control service or call the International Bird Rescue’s Bird Helpline: 1-866-SOS-BIRD (1-800-767-2473).
For more information on how to donate to International Bird Rescue or volunteer, visit their website.
The exact ailment plaguing these birds is not known, and it has not been established whether the uptick in sick birds coincides with the thousands of marine mammals who got sick or died off the SoCal coast following a severe algae bloom earlier this year. Sickness rates from that toxic algae were declining by the end of May.
In another recent local case of animal sicknesses, multiple dogs have died this summer amid 26 suspected cases of a mystery illness affecting canines in the Venice Canals area.