Stay Safe During Stingray Season with These Tips

With the warm summer beach water, millions of beachgoers across Southern California and beyond are spending long days soaking up the sun and diving into the surf. Stingray stings are one of the most common beach injuries, and while the public imagination runs wild with fears of shark attacks, SoCal beachgoers are about 10,000 more likely to encounter a stingray sting. Many people are still unaware of the real risks these bottom-dwelling creatures pose, or how to avoid them.

Here are some crucial safety tips to help you stay stingray-safe this summer.

Where and When Stingrays Lurk

Stingrays prefer warm, shallow, sandy waters, meaning calm beach bays are prime real estate for these flat-bodied fish. From April to October, stingrays move closer to shore as part of their mating and pupping season. That’s exactly when beach attendance also peaks, creating a perfect storm for accidental encounters.

Beaches like Seal Beach (nicknamed “Ray Bay”), La Jolla Shores, and Huntington Beach are known hotspots. In fact, Huntington Beach once reported 176 stingray injuries in a single day. Stingray researchers like Chis Lowe at CSULB’s Shark Lab have observed that most stingray injuries are reported in the afternoon. It could be that beachgoers are at higher risk in the afternoon, but it could also be that the increase is because of the higher beach attendance during the warmest part of the day. Either way, you should be cautious and keep your eyes open for stingrays when you wade in.

Spot the Warning Signs

Before heading into the water, it’s smart to check for lifeguard flags. A purple flag indicates the presence of potentially dangerous marine life, including stingrays. If you see one, take it seriously.

Even if there’s no flag, you might see other indicators of high stingray activity. For example, if you see a line of people at the lifeguard tower with their feet in buckets, this is a telltale sign that stingrays are active. That’s because the standard treatment for a sting is to soak the affected area in hot water until the pain subsides.

You might also see stingrays swimming away from you as you walk into the water. You’ll need to be pretty observant though, because they are well disguised, blending into the ocean floor and often burying themselves under the sand!

Do the Stingray Shuffle

One way to reduce your chances of getting stung is to do the “stingray shuffle.” Instead of stepping as you wade into the water, shuffle your feet along the ocean floor. This alerts stingrays to your presence, giving them time to swim away before you accidentally step on them.

This technique isn’t foolproof. Even if you do the stingray shuffle, you may disturb some stingrays before they can swim away, and accidents will still happen. This leads to our next tip: just don’t touch the ground.

Avoid the Ocean Floor

Humans usually encounter stingrays while they are resting on the ocean floor. If you just don’t touch the floor, you’ll avoid a lot of stingray contact. Try floating or swimming instead of standing when possible. Stingrays typically sting in self-defense when they are stepped on or startled. Minimizing contact with the seabed reduces your chances of an encounter.

That said, not everyone can or wants to avoid standing in the shallows – especially families with young kids or surfers waiting for the next wave. For these beachgoers, protective footwear is key.

Protective Footwear

Traditional water shoes offer minimal protection against stingray barbs, but if you have a pair of old sneakers that you don’t mind getting wet, experts say these will offer more protection against stings – although it is a bit uncomfortable walking around in soggy shoes. If you don’t like the feeling of wet shoes, or you need to stay nimble on your feet for watersports, the company “Dragonskin” recently developed stingray-resistant booties, specially engineered to protect against a stingray’s barb.

Understanding the Sting

What makes a stingray sting so painful? The barb is serrated and backward-facing like an arrowhead, which means it’s more likely to lodge in your skin and break off. It’s also coated with venom that causes excruciating pain and swelling. In some severe cases, victims have experienced tissue and nerve damage, infections, and even required surgery. If the barb breaks off in your skin, your pain doesn’t subside to a manageable level, or if the lifeguards advise it, you may need to see a doctor for treatment.

Quick Tips Recap

- Check for purple flags and lifeguard warnings
- Shuffle your feet when wading into the water
- Avoid standing on the ocean floor when possible
- Wear stingray-resistant booties or an old pair of sneakers to keep your feet safe
- Know the high-risk beaches and times of day
- Seek help immediately if stung – don’t wait

When you hit the sand this summer, pay attention to these tips to ensure a fun and safe day at the beach.