Stingray sting incidents at Bolsa Chica and Huntington State Beaches in Southern California have surpassed 3,100 so far in 2026, more than twice the total recorded for all of 2025, according to lifeguard data cited by both The Independent and the Associated Press. The surge is being attributed to a marine heatwave persisting off parts of the West Coast, elevated ocean temperatures, and growing stingray populations.
Stingray incidents at Southern California beaches running at more than double last year's pace amid marine heatwave
Stingray sting incidents at Bolsa Chica and Huntington State Beaches in Southern California have surpassed 3,100 so far in 2026, more than twice the total recorded for all of 2025, according to lifeguard data cited by both The Independent and the Associated Press. The surge is being attributed to a marine heatwave persisting off parts of the West Coast, elevated ocean temperatures, and growing stingray populations.
The city of Huntington Beach's 3.5-mile stretch of shoreline has recorded more than 2,000 incidents so far this year, already exceeding its full-year total from 2025. On San Diego's beaches, more than 900 stings were recorded during the first half of 2026, a higher count than in the first six months of any of the previous five years, according to lifeguard data.
Bryan R. Etnyre, state park superintendent in northern Orange County, said ocean temperatures in the region have consistently remained in the 60s Fahrenheit and did not drop below that threshold during any week of the past winter. 'We're definitely seeing an increase,' he said.
The current marine heatwave marks the third time on record that such a large section of coastal waters has remained warm for so long, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In June, officials confirmed the formation of an El Niño — a natural warming of parts of the central Pacific that affects weather worldwide — that is expected to grow to historic strength.
Chris Lowe, professor of marine biology and director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, said round stingrays, found in Pacific waters from Panama to Southern California, are known to move toward shore when swells are low and water temperatures rise. He said populations of species that prey on rays — including sharks, sea lions, and giant sea bass — have declined in recent years, allowing stingray numbers to increase.
Lowe described the species as 'a subtropical species that is thriving at the end of its range because of climate change.' He added that during El Niño conditions, more rays move northward from warmer southern waters and closer to shore, and that record numbers are expected this year. Researchers using a 75-foot-long net recently collected approximately 200 stingrays, each roughly the size of a dinner plate, from a single section of beach in Seal Beach. Lowe noted that concentrations can be dense enough that 'you can't see sand.'
Female rays are drawn to warmer, shallower water to reproduce, while male rays in summer have elevated metabolisms that drive them to feed on invertebrates near shore, Lowe said. The ocean has also been warming due to human-caused climate change, according to meteorologists. Increased beach attendance since the coronavirus pandemic has also placed more people in the water.
When stepped on, rays instinctively flick their tails, stinging bathers with venomous barbs. Lifeguards advise shuffling feet when entering the water to encourage rays to move away. Treatment consists of soaking the affected area in the hottest water tolerable. In Southern California, lifeguards can treat as many as 10,000 stingray injuries in a single year, according to Lowe.
One area of Seal Beach, nicknamed 'ray bay,' draws large numbers of rays due to warm water discharged from a nearby power plant, though lifeguards there have not reported a notable change in stings this year.
Lowe said he is working with television stations to develop a stingray advisory system aimed at reducing both injuries and accidental harm to rays, which contribute to beach health by feeding on small clams and aerating sediment. Several beaches already use a smartphone application to alert bathers when multiple stings occur at a location. A company has also produced surf booties claimed to be barb-resistant, though swimmers are still advised to tread carefully to avoid trampling rays.
According to Dr. Christanne Coffey, who researches stingray stings at University of California, San Diego Health, most incidents do not require further medical care. However, if redness and swelling persist beyond four or five days, complications such as infection or a retained barb — detectable by X-ray — may be present.
Jake Hemann, a 31-year-old tourist from New Mexico, was stung while learning to surf at Bolsa Chica State Beach after stepping on what he initially believed was a sharp stick. He described the pain as 'radiating up to my ankle.' Allen Lowry, 69, told the AP he was stung while playing with his 7-year-old grandson and said the experience would not deter him from his routine of swimming three times a week.
- The sources do not specify the total number of stingray incidents recorded statewide or at beaches beyond Huntington Beach, Bolsa Chica, and San Diego.
- The sources do not detail whether public health or government agencies beyond lifeguard services are taking formal action in response to the increase.
- The sources do not establish whether the stingray advisory system Lowe is developing with television stations has a projected launch date.
- The sources do not identify the company that developed the barb-resistant surf booties or provide independent verification of their effectiveness.
- The sources do not report on any formal policy responses from California state or local governments regarding beach safety measures.
- The sources do not indicate whether the El Niño currently forming has been officially rated for intensity beyond the characterisation of 'historic strength.'
- The Independent — original — by Amy Taxin
- Associated Press — by Amy Taxin
Read the original at The Independent