Slimy lakes and dead dogs: climate crisis has brought the season of toxic algae

Warming water and pollution are contributing to a variety of harmful bacteria that can wreak havoc on aquatic environments

From New York City to coastal California, a poison-producing living slime is overtaking waterways and shorelines, killing pets, ravaging tourism markets and making its way into local drinking water. So far this year, algae has been implicated in dog deaths and illness in California, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas. In August, toxic algae overtook Lake Erie, growing to 620 sq miles.