A recent spate of sea lion attacks along the Southern California coast has raised alarm among beachgoers and wildlife experts alike. The March 30 incident involving 15-year-old Pheobe Beltran in Long Beach marks the second reported attack within a span of just days along the region’s 70-mile shoreline.
While such encounters are exceedingly rare, marine biologists believe a harmful algal bloom may be to blame for the animals’ erratic behavior. The bloom, which produces a potent neurotoxin called domoic acid, has been affecting marine life across the Southern California coast since late February, according to The Guardian.
Experts describe alarming symptoms among marine mammals
Domoic acid toxicosis, a condition induced by the neurotoxin, has been documented to cause symptoms such as confusion, seizures, and unusual aggression in sea lions. John Warner, CEO of the Marine Mammal Care Center in Los Angeles, told CNN that the current bloom appears to be more severe than previous outbreaks.
“The sea lions are coming in almost comatose by the time they’re stranding. But volume-wise, it’s definitely the worst we’ve ever seen,” Warner said.
According to Giancarlo Rulli, a spokesperson for the Marine Mammal Center, affected animals commonly exhibit “lethargy, disorientation, and abnormal neurologic behaviour (seizures/tremoring).” He emphasized that while attacks on humans remain uncommon, the public should maintain a safe distance—at least 150 feet—from all marine mammals on the beach and avoid any direct contact.
Rising public concern after recent attacks
Beltran was reportedly participating in a 1,000-yard swim test for the Long Beach Junior Lifeguards cadet program when she was repeatedly bitten by the sea lion. Just over a week earlier, on March 21, a surfer off the coast of Oxnard in Ventura County was also bitten during a swim in open water.
The surfer, whose name has not been released, described the incident as leaving him “shaken” to his very core.
As sea temperatures rise and algal blooms become more frequent, marine scientists caution that such behavioral anomalies in wildlife could persist or worsen. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report unusual animal behavior to local rescue or marine monitoring organizations.
