Veterinarians strive to save sea lions from toxic algae

In California last summer, a bioengineer named Richard Novak and his family spotted a dead sea lion on the beach near Santa Barbara. Then, they saw a second sea lion dying and a third looking disoriented. Novak reached out to area rescue groups, which, he learned, had become woefully familiar with calls like his. What happened next was not so typical.

This story was published on Jan. 14, 2025.