Officials in Orange County are warning beachgoers to be aware of aggressive sea lions along the coastline.
Two beaches in Dana Point reported animal attacks this week. The first one happened Monday afternoon at Salt Creek Beach and the second occurred hours later at Strands Beach, according the Orange County Register. At least one person was bit.
Both beaches have since reopened.
Pacific Marine Mammal Center Veterinarian Alissa Demming told KCAL while sea lions are cute, they are still wild animals.
“Something important to remember is they are wild animals and although they are really cute, their closest living land relative is a bear,” she said. “So when you think about a bear's mouth, you would never approach a bear because you think it's cute.”
It comes after officials say at least eight sea lions have died and multiple more have gotten sick by Domoic Acid poisoning, which according to the California Department of Public Health is “a naturally occurring toxin that is related to a ‘bloom’ of a particular single-celled plant called Pseudo-nitzschia.”
Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Coordinator Justin Viezbicke told KNX News that an algae bloom off the coast of California is causing the toxin to build up in the fish population. Since seals and sea lions eat fish, “that neurotoxin is then transferred to them."
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