Huntington Beach officials are telling surfers, swimmers and casual toe-dippers to tread very carefully after a recent spike in stingray stings along the shoreline. In a weekend alert, the city reported that several people were hit in the shallow surf over the past week, which has lifeguards posting extra warnings, keeping a close eye on the water and reminding visitors to shuffle their feet in ankle-to-knee-deep water to avoid surprise encounters.
City Alerts After Multiple Stings
According to CBS Los Angeles, a city social media post warned that “over the past week, multiple people have been stung, primarily in the shallow surf zone.” The post explained that stings tend to happen most often two to three hours before and after low tide, although they can occur at any time of day. Officials also stressed that lifeguards are on duty, and signs have been placed in areas where recent incidents have been reported.
How Huntington Beach Tracks Stingray Risk
Per Safe Beach Day, Huntington Beach uses a real-time “stingray activity” dial that changes when multiple stingray incidents are logged at a single lifeguard tower and shows color indicators along a beach map. The city’s Marine Safety Division also posts advisories at lifeguard towers and on social channels so people can check conditions before heading into the surf. The idea is simple, check the dashboard, pick a safer stretch of sand or hold off on wading in until activity drops.
Why Stingrays Are Crowding the Shallows
National Geographic notes that warm, calm water and especially low tides can push stingrays into the shallows, since they move with warm patches and feed in tidal flats. The animals often lie partially buried in the sand and are easy to step on. Their main defense is to whip a tail armed with a venomous spine when startled. That mix of inviting water conditions and more people wading in ankle-deep surf has led to spikes in stingray stings at Southern California beaches in past years.
What To Do If You Get Stung
As reported by CBS Los Angeles, officials say the first move is to alert a lifeguard, who can provide first aid and hot water soaks to help ease the pain. The city and lifeguards also recommend getting medical follow-up for deep punctures, pain that does not let up, any signs of infection or if a stingray barb appears to have broken off in the wound. To lower the odds of a sting in the first place, swimmers are being urged to shuffle their feet as they walk into the surf, avoid heavy steps in murky water and check in with lifeguards about conditions before wading out.
Bottom Line for Beachgoers
Locals and visitors do not have to skip Huntington Beach altogether, but extra caution is smart during low tide and the hours around it, when stingray activity is more likely. Before heading into the water, check posted signs, talk to a lifeguard or pull up the city’s Safe Beach Day dashboard for the latest stingray activity report.
