California beaches are experiencing a significant rise in stingray incidents, with beachgoers reporting an increasing number of encounters with the marine animals.
Orange County beaches, including Bolsa Chica and Huntington State Beaches, have recorded over 3,100 stingray incidents this year, a figure that has already doubled the total for the entirety of 2025. Huntington Beach alone has seen more than 2,000 incidents, surpassing last year's total. San Diego reported over 900 stings in the first half of this year, a number higher than any previous six-month period in the past five years, according to lifeguard data.
These incidents occur when beachgoers step on stingrays, prompting the animals to flick their tails and deploy venomous barbs. The venom can cause intense pain, swelling, and nausea. While most stings do not require medical attention, persistent swelling may indicate an infection or a retained barb.
Officials attribute the surge in stingray activity to warmer ocean temperatures, which have consistently remained in the 60s Fahrenheit throughout the year. Round stingrays, found along the Pacific coast from Northern California to Panama, are known to move closer to shore during warmer weather. Females are drawn to warmer waters for reproduction, while males benefit from increased metabolism and hunting opportunities.
Marine biologists suggest that a potential decrease in predators such as sharks, sea lions, and giant bass could also be contributing to the growing stingray population. Chris Lowe, a professor of marine biology at California State University, Long Beach, anticipates record numbers of stingrays this year, noting that they can sometimes cover the seafloor so densely that the sand is not visible. He also indicated that during El Niño events, more stingrays migrate from the south and come closer to shore.
This year's "Super El Niño" is also associated with record-high ocean temperatures, which could lead to the appearance of species not typically found in California waters, including tiger sharks, bull sharks, and venomous snakes, according to Douglas McCauley, director of the Benioff Ocean Initiative at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Efforts are underway to mitigate the number of stings, including working with television stations to create stingray advisories. Despite being a nuisance to beachgoers, stingrays play a role in the marine ecosystem by consuming small clams and contributing to the oxygenation of the ocean floor.