The adult sea lions are being found just as rescue centers gear up for saving sea lion pups that typically are found struggling at this time of year.

More than a dozen sea lions have been sickened in the wake of a likely domoic acid outbreak in Malibu, according to wildlife officials.

MALIBU — An outbreak of domoic acid is sickening sea lions in the waters off Malibu, according to wildlife officials. Workers at the California Wildlife Center responded to at least 14 calls for sea lions in distress over a four-day period, the center said in a Facebook post on Saturday.

The animals appear to be suffering from exposure to a neurotoxin produced by algal blooms that accumulates in fish the sea lions eat.

Toxic algae bloom is being blamed for sickening several California sea lions in Malibu, Calif., according to a nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation center.

The California Wildlife Center received more than a dozen calls about sick sea lions in Malibu over four days.

Alys Martinez reports from Malibu, where wildlife officials are busy trying to help distressed sea lions that may have been sickened by a toxic algae outbreak in the area.

An outbreak of toxic algae has left as many as 50 sea lions sickened and stranded on Malibu beaches in the past week, according to wildlife officials. It is estimated that at least 10 sea lions are currently in treatment at the Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles.

A surge of California sea lions exhibiting neurological distress in Malibu is suspected to be caused by domoic acid poisoning, stemming from toxic algae blooms. The California Wildlife Center said rescue efforts are underway amid urgent public warnings to maintain distance from the animals.