Did Algae Kill a Family on a Camping Trip?

A mystery from the Sierra National Forest

Sierra National Forest
Sierra National Forest.
Sam Mgrdichian/Unsplash

When reports of dangerous or lethal algae come up, it’s usually in the context of the dangers it poses to other wildlife. A report in The Guardian from 2020 detailed a toxic algae bloom in Florida that killed hundreds of dolphins and manatees. A year before that, CNN reported on algae that had killed a number of dogs in the Southeastern United States. But to date, toxic algae hasn’t had as much of an impact on humans. An alarming new case in California suggests that might be about to change.

Last week, authorities found the bodies of a family of campers — including two parents, their one-year-old child and a dog — in Sierra National Forest. As Samir Ferdowsi reports at Vice, toxic algae might be to blame.

The article notes that an investigation by the State Water Resources Control Board is currently underway. The U.S. Forest Service posted a warning on social media last month instructing visitors to the forest “not to swim, wade or allow their pets to enjoy the water. This due to the Toxic Algal Mats that have formed and are present.”

According to Ferdowsi’s report, local law enforcement is continuing their investigation and doesn’t have a definitive answer yet for what killed the family. But if this theory pans out, it’s indicative of another environmental disaster in the making.

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