With summer in full force, plenty of people are spending time at the beach.
However, Southern California beachgoers are suddenly more at risk of being stung by a stingray, especially in Seal Beach.
Stingray Stings See an Increase
According to Iman Palm and Chip Yost of KTLA, the number of stingray incidents this time around has seen a "sharp increase."
Per Seal Beach Marine Safety Chief Joe Bailey, stings take place on an average of once per day.
However, according to Bailey, the number has recently risen "to around a dozen daily," with "some days reaching as many as 20 reported cases."
Since the stingrays are defined as "bottom dwellers," they often hide in the sand, and usually, people step on them and get stung.
Seal Beach Was Previously Dubbed the 'Stingray Capital of the World'
In 2023, Chris Lowe, the director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, reported that the stingray population was at an "all-time high," according to Leanne Suter of ABC 7.
"We're talking about stingray capital of the world here, and it's mainly round stingrays. We have four species that are found in nearshore waters. Round stingrays are by far the most abundant, and they have the behavior that makes them most likely to be stepped on," Lowe said.
Bailey stated back then that there were "more than 30,000" of them in the San Gabriel River, and lifeguards averaged more than 500 stingray sting victims per year.
Moreover, the total number of injuries from the stingrays was staggering.
"We estimate that there could be as many as 10,000 stingray injuries in Southern California alone," said Lowe. "That's probably the most anywhere in the country."
What to Do if Bitten by a Stingray
According to Very Well Health, a stingray sting might be painful, but it is not considered to be dangerous.
However, there are still preventive measures that need to be taken, including the following:
Irrigate the wound with fresh water.
Apply direct pressure to the wound to control any bleeding.
Remove any small pieces of stinger, but not from the chest, neck or abdomen area.
Soak the wound in hot water.
Wash the wound with soap and water before covering it with a clean bandage.
Go to urgent care and take X-rays if necessary.
Related: Study Names Most 'Dangerous' Beach in the U.S.
Marine Officials Warn of Rising Stingray Encounters at California Beach first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 1, 2025
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