Mysterious illness affecting sea gulls in Southern California

An unknown illness is sickening and killing Southern California sea gulls, a bird rescue organization said on Tuesday.

San Pedro-based International Bird Rescue says there's been an "unusual surge" of sick and dying Western gulls along the area's shores. As the organization scrambles to treat the affected birds, state and county agencies are investigating potential environmental toxins as the culprit.

The ailing gulls have been found on a stretch from Malibu to Redondo Beach, according to International Bird Rescue.

"Affected gulls are arriving with symptoms that include dehydration, difficulty standing, partial or complete paralysis, confusion, difficulty blinking, and, in the most severe cases, respiratory distress," the organization said in a news release. "Some birds have been found