The Brief

Animal experts are looking into a mysterious illness affecting Southern California’s Western gulls.

At least 16 birds have been treated from the Venice, Redondo, Malibu and the South Bay areas, according to International Bird Rescue. It is unclear how many seagulls have been affected in total.

What we know 

Tests indicate that the sickness is not bird flu, said JD Bergeron, CEO of International Bird Rescue.

“It seems to be more of a toxicity rather than a disease like bird flu,” Bergeron said. “Something like a harmful algal bloom or something similar.”

Symptoms include difficulty standing, partial or complete paralysis and occasionally respiratory distress.

Western gulls are opportunistic feeders and will eat just about anything in front of them. They are likely eating something or in a place that has a toxicity problem, Bergeron added.

“It's really about the environment that they're in, the diet, and what other animals are there,” Bergeron said. “The fact that we're just seeing Western gulls and they're somewhat spread out, it puts some questions in our minds. It's just that we don't know what that problem is yet.”

Domoic acid has been an issue

While it’s unclear what’s making the gulls sick, other illnesses in animals have been attributed to domoic acid poisoning.

Domoic acid toxicosis is associated with a toxic bloom off the coast that killed brown pelicans, sea lions, and now at least two whales over the last year.

Toxic algae was also recently found in water around the Venice Canals after reports of unexplained severe illness in multiple dogs last month. It’s unclear what caused the illnesses.

How can you help? 

“If we get birds into care quickly, they will have the best possible chance to turn around and get well,” Bergergon said. “The birds in care are responding really well to our medical treatments, despite the fact that we're not exactly sure what the cause is yet.”

If you see a bird in distress, you can let a lifeguard know or call your local animal control. You can also get advice at the International Bird Rescue’s bird helpline at (866) 767-2473.

If you’ve noticed more wildlife visiting your yard in recent years — maybe digging up your vegetable garden or even drinking from your pool — you’re not alone.

A recent study from UCLA found that larger predators like mountain lions and bears are more likely to interact with humans and travel closer to population centers in drier years. To determine this, the researchers analyzed state data collected on reported property damage, nuisances, conflicts and sightings.

“It kind of runs the full gamut of how people interact with wildlife around their neighborhoods and their homes,” said UCLA postdoctoral researcher Kendall Calhoun, the lead author on the study.

It's not just P-22. Mountain lions across the whole state are forced to leave their habitats for survival.

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Courtesy Kendall Calhoun

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Different motivations for different animals

As you might expect, different animals might have different reasons for entering populated areas. But in large part, Calhoun said, it comes down to animals’ survival instincts.

The primary motivator for many herbivores is likely to be food. That’s because with less precipitation, there’s also less plant material for them to eat. (Don’t forget: even with all the rain we’ve had recently, much of Southern California is still in a drought.)

“ Deer and elk might be pushed to find those food resources in places that they normally wouldn't go, like agriculture, crops, things from people's yards, persimmons from your tree,” Calhoun said.

And as herbivores get pushed toward humans, the animals that prey on them are too. In fact, the species that saw the highest increases in clashes with humans were omnivores and carnivores, specifically mountain lions, coyotes, black bears and bobcats.

But even these animals have varying reasons for getting close to people.

“Mountain lions might be more inclined to look for supplemental food in livestock — that might be a sheep or a goat,” Calhoun said. “Black bears may be more willing to go into your trash to look for food to help supplement what they're missing in their resource-scarce natural areas.”

Meanwhile, animals of all kinds might enter a yard even when they have enough food to look for standing water.

About the data

Researchers analyzed data from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife that were reported over the last several years as part of a citizen science initiative.

One important caveat is that the researchers primarily looked at conflicts between wildlife and residents, and there may be differences in how these interactions are reported.

For example, you might not report a deer eating fruit from an overloaded tree as a nuisance, but even a peaceful black bear digging through your trash could raise alarm bells.

 "People also really value having wildlife living alongside them," Calhoun said. "It really is important for us to try to strike that balance where there's pros for both sides, without some of the negative interactions that come with living in close proximity with wildlife species."

Learn more about human-wildlife interactions

There’s more background on the research on UCLA’s website, and you can find the full study here.

You can also learn much more about interactions between humans and wildlife in LAist’s Imperfect Paradise podcast series, “Lions, Coyotes, & Bears.”

Low-cost internet service will soon roll out in parts of L.A. County at the end of this year, and organizers say eligible households can sign up for alerts when the service becomes available.

The service — a partnership between L.A. County and internet provider WeLink — is the latest project from the county’s “Delete the Divide,” an initiative meant to bridge the digital divide in underserved neighborhoods.

Major funding for the project comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, as well as a grant from the California Public Utilities Commission.

It’s badly needed

About 23%, or more than 20,000, households in the East L.A. and Boyle Heights area don’t have home internet, according to Delete the Divide.

The service will also soon be coming to South L.A., where more than 40,000 households were identified as lacking home internet.

What you need to know

There will be different plans available — including low-income, market-rate and small business options — at fixed prices. The low-cost plan will start at $25 per month for qualifying families. Those who don’t qualify could also purchase plans starting at $65 a month. Monthly rates are fixed until at least September 2027.

Every plan includes unlimited data, a router and parental controls.

Low-cost internet service will soon roll out in South L.A. at the end of this year.

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Courtesy of L.A. County

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Low-cost internet service will soon roll out in parts of East L.A. and Boyle Heights at the end of this year.

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Courtesy of L.A. County

)

How it works 

WeLink will install a Wi-Fi router inside a home and a 4-inch radio on the roof to connect the household to the internet.

Interested households can sign up for updates and be notified by WeLink when service is available here.