On a recent trip to Huntington Beach, California, Jake Hemann found himself sitting at a lifeguard station soaking his foot in hot water. He was among five beachgoers nursing stingray stings — a growing occurrence at Southern California beaches like Bolsa Chica and others. The region has experienced a significant rise in incidents due to a marine heat wave, drawing both stingrays and beach visitors closer to shore.
Hemann, visiting from New Mexico, had been learning to surf. Mistaking a sharp stingray barb for a stick, he said, “It hurt pretty bad,” as he submerged his foot in hot water, a method known to alleviate stingray stings. The injury caused pain to radiate up to his ankle.
Bolsa Chica and Huntington State Beaches noted over 3,100 stingray-related incidents this year, twice the figures from 2025. Huntington Beach alone reported over 2,000 incidents, surpassing the total from last year. San Diego’s beaches recorded more than 900 stings in the first half of 2026, the highest in recent years, according to lifeguard data.
Warmer Waters Invite Stingrays
State park superintendent Bryan R. Etnyre remarked on the consistent warm ocean temperatures as a significant factor in this increase. Temperatures remained above 60 degrees, a draw for marine life. Round stingrays, found from Panama to Southern California, are known to approach the shore when waters warm and swells decrease.
Professor Chris Lowe from California State University, Long Beach, explained that declining populations of shark, sea lion, and giant sea bass — predators of stingrays — contribute to the growing stingray numbers. Lowe noted that these rays, thriving at the edge of their range, favor warm lagoons, particularly for summer feeding and reproduction.
Stingray populations increased alongside a marine heat wave off the West Coast, marking the third such recorded event. Meteorologists tied the warming oceans to human-induced climate change, with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration acknowledging a persistent El Niño in the central Pacific.
Safety Measures and Responses
Increased beach attendance since the pandemic and warmer waters boost swimming activity, raising the likelihood of stingray encounters. Foot shuffling is a suggested preventive measure as it encourages rays to avoid contact without stinging.
Lowe shared estimates of up to 10,000 annual stingray injuries treated by lifeguards across Southern California. Seal Beach, known for warm runoff, attracts such high stingray numbers it is called “ray bay.” Though numbers didn’t significantly change at Seal Beach, elsewhere, researchers captured around 200 stingrays in a single sweep.
Efforts to mitigate stings include developing stingray advisories with TV stations and producing barb-resistant surf booties. Apps now inform beachgoers of sting concentrations. While hot water remains the primary remedy for stings, experts recommend medical attention if symptoms persist beyond five days, due to risks of infection or retained barbs visible on X-rays.
Allen Lowry, injured while playing with his grandson, attested to the relief of hot water soaks. Despite the pain, the 69-year-old plans to continue his regular beach swims.