The sea lion “spooked all the surfers and bodyboarders” and was “chasing them in an aggressive fashion,” said Brian O’Rourke, assistant chief lifeguard with Newport Beach Fire.

Aggressive sea lion attacks surfers in Southern California. The sea lion in Newport Beach was suffering from severe domoic acid caused by toxic algae bloom that affects animals' brains and makes ...

A stranded California sea lion suffering from suspected domoic acid poisoning cranes its head on the beach, before being rescued on March 27, 2025 in Oxnard, California.

A sea lion's head pokes out of the water behind a surfer at a beach in San Diego in April 2025. YouTube/DingoSaidSo Surfers rush to leave the water to get away from the aggressive animal.

A sick California sea lion with possible domoic acid poisoning is rescued in Santa Barbara, Calif. David Swanson/AFP/Getty "These animals are reacting to the fact that they are sick," Warner said.

Sea lion attacks appear to be increasing, due to a toxic algae bloom that can make the animals act aggresively. A toxic algae bloom may be triggering a change in the way the animals behave.

Sea lions in Southern California waters had rarely posed a problem for beachgoers, surfers and swimmers. Now, scientists say a naturally occurring bloom of toxic algae, a neurotoxin, is infecting ...

The sea lion “spooked all the surfers and bodyboarders” and was “chasing them in an aggressive fashion,” said Brian O’Rourke, assistant chief lifeguard with Newport Beach Fire.

Along some seventy plus miles of southern California coastline, usually curious and playful sea lions are attacking humans in the water. At unprecedented levels, the animals are being poisoned by ...

The sea lion “spooked all the surfers and bodyboarders” and was “chasing them in an aggressive fashion,” said Brian O’Rourke, assistant chief lifeguard with Newport Beach Fire.

By Stephanie Elam, CNN. Los Angeles — Along some 70 miles of Southern California coastline, usually curious and playful sea lions are attacking humans in the water. The animals are being ...

Pheobe Beltran, a 15-year-old girl in Long Beach, was swimming on March 30, when a sea lion attacked her right arm. “I was just so scared, so shocked, but I still felt the immense pain on my ...