California's coastline is known for its inviting waves and sunny shores, but this year, an unusual marine heatwave has brought an unwelcome surprise: a dramatic spike in stingray stings. At Bolsa Chica and Huntington State Beach, medical visits for stingray injuries have doubled compared to last year, surpassing 3,500 cases in 2026. Marine biologists from California State University, Long Beach, attribute this surge directly to ocean warming driven by El Niño.
Round stingrays, which bury themselves in shallow sandy waters, thrive in warm, calm conditions—exactly the kind of weather that draws crowds to the beach. As Ben Perlman, lead researcher at the STABB Lab, puts it, “Round stingrays like calm, warm, nice water, and humans like that too.” The result is a perfect storm of accidental encounters.
Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab, notes that stingray injuries rise in direct proportion to ocean temperatures. Lifeguards are now reinforcing safety warnings along the shore to prevent casual outings from ending in emergency room visits. For beachgoers, the advice is simple: shuffle your feet when wading in shallow water to alert buried rays of your presence.
Why Warmer Waters Mean More Stings
Over four years of continuous monitoring, Lowe's team has documented how Pacific warming brings unusual species like sea turtles, whale sharks, and hammerhead sharks closer to shore—a phenomenon also seen in El Niño events. Yet round stingrays remain the primary culprit for injuries, as they stay buried in the surf zone where people walk.
Graduate researcher Felicity Erikkson points out that precise injury rates are hard to calculate without daily crowd counts. The team relies on aerial photos and parking lot data to estimate beach usage, and they analyze lifeguard logs dating back to the 1960s to identify high-risk areas near estuaries and sandy shores.
Inside the STABB Lab: Testing Stingray Reflexes
At the STABB Lab (Stingray and Butterfly Biomechanics), researchers use high-speed cameras and a silicone foot attached to a wooden pole to simulate human steps over buried rays. Their experiments compare winter and summer water conditions, showing that warmer water speeds up muscular contractions in stingrays, leading to faster and more forceful defensive strikes.
The team is also developing puncture-resistant neoprene boots. By driving stingray spines through various synthetic materials, they measure penetration force and aim to prove that thick material can block the venomous sheath, significantly reducing the amount of venom entering the skin.
First Aid and Prevention
If you do get stung, medical experts explain that the tail spine releases toxins upon impact, causing immediate sharp pain that can escalate into throbbing discomfort. Health authorities urge immediate medical evaluation to prevent secondary bacterial infections. For relief, guidelines supported by MedlinePlus recommend submerging the affected limb in hot water (104–113°F) for 30 to 90 minutes.
Looking ahead, Perlman advises all beachgoers to practice the “stingray shuffle”—sliding your feet laterally along the seabed without lifting your heels. This subtle vibration alerts buried rays to your presence, giving them time to swim away safely. As California continues to experience warmer waters, researchers will keep studying these creatures to ensure safer beach outings for everyone.
For those planning a trip to the coast, it's worth noting that climate change is also affecting other aspects of California's environment, from harsher droughts to wildfire risks. But for now, the stingray surge is a reminder that even the most pleasant ocean days can hide a painful surprise.
