A sick sea lion resting on a California beach was kicked in the head and beaten with a large piece of driftwood, prosecutors say.<\/p>\n
Now, 32-year-old Christopher Hurtado, of Santa Paula, has pleaded guilty \u201cto two felony counts related to the beating of a sea lion suffering on a Ventura beach from recent algae blooms,\u201d the Ventura County District Attorney\u2019s Office said in a June 17 news release.<\/p>\n
McClatchy News was unable to immediately reach an attorney representing the man on June 18.<\/p>\n
\u201cVentura County was outraged by the violence this defendant inflicted on a defenseless animal,\u201d District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said in the release. \u201cThe nature of this senseless attack shocked our conscience and called for aggressive prosecution.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a woman was walking on the beach with her dog March 4, she spotted \u201ca sea lion stuck on the rocks in front of the Ventura Promenade\u201d and called 911, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
When dispatchers checked live footage from surveillance cameras near the Ventura Pier, they saw the man approach the sea lion and kick it in the head, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
Hurtado sat on the rocks for a short time, then grabbed \u201ca four-foot piece of driftwood,\u201d raised it above his head and hit the sea lion twice, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
Officers arrived at the shoreline and detained him as he tried to run away, according to police, McClatchy News previously reported.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficers found .06 grams of methamphetamine in Hurtado\u2019s pants pocket,\u201d prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
At the time of the attack, \u201cthe sea lion was alive but suffering from domoic acid poisoning, a naturally occurring toxin in algae that can be harmful to marine mammals,\u201d police said.<\/p>\n
The Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute responded to keep an eye on the sea lion\u2019s condition, according to police.<\/p>\n
The nonprofit ended up caring for the sea lion at its center but later had to euthanize it due to its domoic acid poisoning, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
Just before his trial was set to begin, Hurtado pleaded guilty to \u201cone count of cruelty to an animal and possession of a hard drug,\u201d prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
In addition, he admitted to \u201cspecial allegations and aggravating factors,\u201d which included having a prior strike and \u201cthat the sea lion was vulnerable,\u201d according to prosecutors.<\/p>\n
Hurtado, who is being held on $25,000 bail, is scheduled to appear in court July 14 for sentencing and faces three years in prison, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
Ventura is about a 70-mile drive northwest from Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
The sea lion\u2019s death came during an uptick in the number of sea lions suffering from domoic acid poisoning found along the Southern California coast, according to a Feb. 25 Facebook post from the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.<\/p>\n
Domoic acid is produced by the algae Pseudo-nitzschia australis, according to the Marine Mammal Center.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen conditions are right, waters off the coast of California can experience large-scale toxic algal blooms that are capable of sickening hundreds of sea lions in a matter of weeks, causing them to wash ashore at an alarming rate \u2013 sometimes a dozen a day,\u201d according to the Marine Mammal Care Center.<\/p>\n
Some symptoms of domoic acid poisoning are \u201cseizures, bobbing head, erratic behavior and lethargy,\u201d the Marine Mammal Center says.<\/p>\n
With some domoic acid poisoning cases, the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute said it removes sea lions from the beach.<\/p>\n
In other cases, however, the organization leaves the sea lion on the beach to \u201cgive the animal space and time to work through the acute phase of the toxin,\u201d the organization said, adding that it continues to monitor the animal.<\/p>\n
The organization warned those who come into contact with a \u201cmarine mammal in distress\u201d to keep a distance of at least 50 feet.<\/p>\n
This article by Daniella Segura was first published by The Sacramento Bee on 18 June 2025. Lead Image:\u00a0The sea lion (not the one pictured) was suffering from domoic acid poisoning, police say. Maura Mikhail Unsplash.<\/em><\/p>\n The 73% decline in vertebrate wildlife populations during the last 50 years (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish), is primarily driven by human activities that threaten biodiversity.<\/p>\n Habitat Loss and Degradation<\/em> – human activities like deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture have led to the destruction and fragmentation of natural habitats, reducing the space and resources available for wildlife.<\/p>\n Pollution<\/em> – air, water, and soil pollution from industrial activities, agriculture, and other sources can harm wildlife directly or indirectly by affecting their habitats and food sources.<\/p>\n Climate Change<\/em> – changing weather patterns, rising temperatures, and sea levels are disrupting ecosystems and impacting species’ ability to adapt and survive.<\/p>\n Overexploitation of Resources<\/em> – unsustainable hunting, fishing, and logging practices can lead to the depletion of populations and the loss of biodiversity.<\/p>\n Invasive Species<\/em> – the introduction of non-native species can disrupt ecosystems, compete with native species, and threaten their survival.<\/p>\nWildlife in catastrophic decline<\/h2>\n