There has been an increase in the number of stingray attacks at Southern California beaches this month, according to officials.
San Diego beach goers and lifeguards have seen a number of them along the coast, and officials are warning people to be careful when swimming.
Lifeguard Supervisor Kevin Pearsall said it’s important to shuffle your feet when entering the water.
“As you enter the water, onto the sand, you kind of shuffle, you keep the sand moving, the area moving as they hear you coming and see you coming,” he said. “They're going to flee. They do not want contact with us in anyway.”
If stung by a stingray, officials recommend seeing a doctor to check for barbs left by the animal's stinger.
Last year, Huntington Beach city beaches saw an all-time record number of stingray injuries last year, with more than 400 seen by November.
