Surfers at California's iconic Newport Beach were sent scrambling for shore when an aggressive sea lion began charging at them while in the chilly West Coast waters.
Dingo, a Newport Beach resident, was filming the lively water at The Wedge on Tuesday - one of the area's most famous surf spots - when a dozen or so surfers suddenly began frantically paddling back to shore, ABC 7 reported.
The source of the aquatic chaos turned out to be a belligerent sea lion, vigorously chasing beachgoers in a display of unusual behavior rarely seen in the species.
'One of the craziest things I've ever seen down here,' Dingo told Eyewitness News.
In the terrifying footage shared to his YouTube channel, the surfers were seendesperately paddling toward shore, constantly glancing over their shoulders for any sign of the unexpected sea creature trailing behind them.
Another clip showed the sea lion leaping through waves as it chased a surfer on his board, appearing to trail just a heartbeat behind.
'The concern level at the time wasn't really that high,' Dingo explained to the outlet.
'I felt like everybody was getting away from the sea lion, kind of in an appropriate manner, and I really never felt threatened other than that one time that it jumped out after that surfer that was trying to get in,' he added.
An aggressive sea lion was captured on video charging at surfers in the waters of California's iconic Newport Beach
In recent months, sea lion attacks have become increasingly and unexpectedly frequent on Southern California's coast despite the mammal typically being fearful of humans
The sea creature, which had been actively pursuing people both in the water and on shore, seemed to calm once the waters cleared - only to make its way toward the panic-stricken beach
The sea creature, which had been actively pursuing people both in the water and on shore, seemed to calm once the waters cleared - only to make its way toward the panic-stricken beach-goers.
The Pacific Marine Mammal Center arrived at the beach and, despite some resistance, managed to capture the defiant sea lion with a large net.
Dr. Alissa Deming, a veterinarian, attributed the sea lion's unusual aggression to a growing issue plaguing the state's bodies of water, explaining that the creatures are naturally fearful of humans.
Toxic algae bloom affecting Southern California's coast has left the marine mammals sick, disrupting their typical, wary behavior and significantly contributing to their sudden acts of violence.
According to Dr. Deming, the sea lion's lack of fear was consistent with previous cases of seizures linked to the algae bloom, which she explained leads to permanent brain damage.
'It was showing signs that were classic for chronic domoic acid intoxication, and because of that - and it not being treatable, and the significant concern for public safety - the only option in this animal's case was to humanely euthanize it,' she told Eyewitness News.
Given their increasingly unpredictable behavior, Dr. Deming urged anyone who encounters a sea lion to immediately leave the water.
Despite Tuesday's frantic dash to shore, Dingo expressed sadness over seal's tragic and fateful ending.
In the terrifying footage, dozens of surfers were seen desperately paddling towards shore in unison, constantly glancing over their shoulders for any sign of the unexpected sea creature trailing behind them
Dr. Alissa Deming, a veterinarian, attributed the sea lion's unusual aggression to a growing issue plaguing the state's bodies of water - toxic algae bloom - which leaves the creatures sick and disrupts their typical, wary behavior, significantly contributing to their sudden acts of violence (pictured: Dr. Alissa Deming)
Another clip from the attempted Newport Beach attack showed the sea lion leaping through waves as it chased a surfer on his board, appearing to trail just a heartbeat behind
'These animals are beautiful creatures,' he told Eyewitness News. 'We love to see them out here.'
'We cohabitate with them in the water and most of the time, it's pretty peaceful.'
Animal experts in Los Angeles have been on the hunt for a culprit after several people were repeatedly bitten and scratched by the generally friendly marine mammals across the state's beaches.
Just last month, a California surfer was left 'shaken to his core' after being mauled by a sea lion infected with a 'zombie-like neurotoxin'.
In a Facebook post, RJ LaMendola described his experience riding the waves at Oxnard State Beach Park before encountering the 'deranged predator.'
Out of nowhere, the creature erupted from the water, hurtling towards him 'at full speed' with its 'mouth gaped wide' and teeth gleaming.
After several attempts at an ambush, the crazed animal clamped its jaws down hard on his left butt cheek.
LaMendola said that he was still dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the March encounter, describing it as 'the most harrowing and traumatic experience of my 20 years of surfing'.
The Pacific Marine Mammal Center arrived at the beach and, despite some resistance, managed to capture the defiant sea lion with a large net. The creature was later 'humanely euthanized'
According to Dr. Deming, the sea lion's lack of fear was consistent with previous cases of seizures linked to an algae bloom, which she explained leads to permanent brain damage
Earlier this month, the Marine Mammal Care Center discovered that the behavior change of sea lions was tied to the increasing number of toxic algae blooms forming in the area - the same cause Dr. Deming cited in connection with the recent attempted attack at Newport Beach
'The pain was sharp and immediate, but the terror was worse - it shook its head violently, tugging me off my board by my flesh, dragging me into the water,' he said.
'Its expression was feral, almost demonic, devoid of the curiosity or playfulness I'd always associated with sea lions.'
'My wetsuit was shredded where it had bitten me, a jagged tear exposing the puncture wound in my buttock.'
The surfer said he eventually stumbled back onto the beach with blood pouring down his leg, but managed to drive to a nearby hospital.
Earlier this month, the Marine Mammal Care Center revealed that test done on the suddenly aggressive sea lions found they were suffering from domoic acid toxicosis - a neurological condition caused by exposure to the harmful algae.
John Warner, CEO of the nonprofit Marine Mammal Care Center in Los Angeles, explained that domoic acid builds up in local fish, including anchovies and sardines, as they swim through these blooms.
These fish are then eaten by the sea lions, contaminating their bodies with the toxin and eventually causing seizures and confusion.
Brian O'Rourke, Newport Beach Fire Department Chief Lifeguard, urged surfers to stay away from sea lions after Tuesday's incident, despite acknowledging that they 'may look docile and really approachable' but are still wildlife (pictured: Brian O'Rourke)
Tests on the suddenly aggressive sea lions that victims described as 'demonic' revealed that they were suffering from domoic acid toxicosis - a neurological condition caused by exposure to the harmful algae
Domoic acid builds up in local fish, including anchovies and sardines, as they swim through these blooms before they are eventually eaten by sea lions, contaminatingtheir bodies with the toxin and eventually causing seizures and confusion (pictured: California sea lion suffering from domoic acid poisoning struggles in April)
Sadly, as the sea lions get sicker and sicker, the damage to their brains causes them to lash out in terror of anything near them - including people.
'These animals are reacting to the fact that they are sick,' Warner told the BBC. 'They're disoriented, and most likely, most of them are having seizures, and so their senses are not all fully functional as they normally would and they're acting out of fear.'
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this is the fourth straight year toxic algae blooms have been developing in Southern California.
NOAA explained that strong winds blow across the ocean off California, pushing surface water aside and pulling up colder, deeper water in a process called upwelling.
This deep water is packed with nutrients like nitrogen that make algae grow fast in the sunlight.
Usually, that’s great for sea life, but sometimes certain algae go overboard, creating huge blooms and pumping out toxins poisonous to fish, shellfish, and even people if they eat them.
Domoic acid toxicosis stems from an organism called Pseudo-nitzschia, which can grow into algal blooms in the water.
These harmful blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia produce the domoic acid, which infects marine life swimming through it.
California surferRJ LaMendola wasriding the waves at Oxnard State Beach Park last month when a sea lionerupted from the water, hurtling towards him 'at full speed' with its 'mouth gaped wide' and teeth gleaming before biting his left butt cheek, leaving him with PTSD (pictured: RJ LaMendola)
Domoic acid toxicosis stems from an organism called Pseudo-nitzschia (pictured), which can grow into algal blooms in the water. The bloomsproduce the domoic acid, which infects marine life swimming through it
The Marine Mammal Care Center has already admitted 195 sea lions suffering from domoic acid toxicosis at the end of March - nearly four times as many than the center treated at the same point last year (pictured: a California sea lion suffering from domoic acid poisoning struggles in March)
Warner added that his nonprofit had already admitted 195 sea lions suffering from domoic acid toxicosis at the end of March.
That's nearly four times as many than the center treated at the same point in 2024.
Even worse, the effect of the toxic algae appears to be more severe this year than previous blooms.
There's another reason for Southern Californians to worry about sea lions becoming more violent due to this illness - their population has exploded in recent decades.
The California coast is now home to approximately 250,000 sea lions. That's compared to just 1,500 in the 1920s.
'First of all, sea lions may look docile and really approachable, but they're wildlife,' Brian O'Rourke, Newport Beach Fire Department Chief Lifeguard, told Eyewitness News after Tuesday's incident.
'Please stay away from them.'
