A 32-year-old man was arrested on Ventura Beach for allegedly attacking a California sea lion suffering from domoic acid poisoning. Surveillance footage showed the man hitting the beached animal with a large stick.
Police detained the suspect, Christopher Hurtado, who attempted to flee and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. He faces charges of felony animal cruelty, felony possession of a controlled substance, and violation of federal laws protecting marine mammals.
The sea lion, an adult female, was suffering from domoic acid poisoning, a neurotoxin caused by harmful algal blooms. She was taken to a treatment center for monitoring by the Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute.
Authorities remind the public that intentionally harassing or injuring sea lions is a federal crime under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The public is urged to report any ill or injured marine animals to the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute rescue hotline at (805) 567-1505.
A similar outbreak of domoic acid toxicity affected numerous sea lions, dolphins, and fur seals along the coast last summer.