Warming Ocean Waters are Raising Stingray Concerns on the South Coast
CARPINTERIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The warming waters this year in the Pacific Ocean are believed to be a component to the rising numbers of stingray encounters in Southern California, including along the Carpinteria coast.
Special signs can be seen at the Carpinteria beaches urging people getting in the water to move their feet back and forth as part of the "stingray shuffle." That will stir up the stingrays where they are hiding in the sand and move them on.
At the Carpinteria and Santa Claus Lane beaches many people in and out of the water were aware of the stingray issue due to the changing water conditions. Temperatures in the last few weeks have exceeded 70 degrees. In San Diego some buoys recorded 80 degrees.
Two people who had been stung this summer said they were in high pain and the hot water treatment made a significant difference to reduce the pain. One person had an infection and it took antibiotics to bring it under control.
Theresa Smith said, however, the sting ray was not in the sand but swimming at the time it struck with its venomous barb on the tail.
"I was boogie boarding, I was kicking and I felt it and I knew it, exactly what it was when it happened," she said. "The worse pain that I have every felt in my life. it was very intense, so intense that when AMR came out they were having a hard time taking my vitals because I was shaking." Unlike most stings, she had a negative reaction and needed antibiotics. "I hobbled around for a week with a swollen foot and eventually went to urgent care."
Lifeguards further south in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties have reported a significant rise in stingray encounters, calls for service and on the scene treatments. In some cases lifeguards, fire crews and medics are responding.
Extreme hot water is the first treatment.
Jack Bradbury was playing volleyball and recalling how he was stung. "I wasn't doing the stingray shuffle and I got hit. And it hurt. It hurts alot."
One visitor John Guthrie said, "one of the few times I didn't do the shuffle was when I stepped on one and I was able to quickly lift my foot but it was able to get me a little bit."
A mom and former State of California Lifeguard Stephanie Pimentel was very aware of the risks. "There are a lot of kids here. The vibrations can send them (stingrays) away but they could be anywhere especially because there is a breeding ground up by the bird estuary ."
The lifeguards are not always on duty this time of year but you are advised to swim with others for your safety. "We usually stay where people are and sometimes we ask the lifeguard before we go in just to be sure," said Pimentel.
While there is an increase in stingray incidents, thousands of people on the South Coast are going in the water each week without any encounters, or negative experiences.
Monday, many high school teens were on the beach in Carpinteria enjoying the waves. They were from the Santa Clarita area where they were not in school for the day. One teen said it was "Senior Ditch Day."
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