A Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance near Gull Island in Alaska

A Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska. The harmful algal bloom toxin saxitoxin was found in Common Murres killed during the 2014-2016 Pacific marine heatwave. Pacific sand lance, a preferred prey item for murres and other seabirds, are often associated with seabird die-off events, and have higher saxitoxin concentrations than other forage fish in Alaska.