California Otter Population in Peril After Four Die.

Four sea otters found dead along the California coast between 2020 and 2022 were killed by a toxic parasite called Coug, a strain of toxoplasmosis that has never been detected in an aquatic animal before. The parasite, carried by wild and domestic cats, can infect humans and other animals, making it a potential threat to marine wildlife and humans. Scientists warn that the discovery of the parasite in sea otters could be an indicator of a larger threat to other marine wildlife.