Sea lion bites young surfer in Monterey County: 'It was pain, and then I was screaming'

This Los Angeles Times article reports on a recent sea lion attack involving a 9-year-old girl during a surfing lesson at Asilomar State Beach in Monterey County.

The incident occurred when Corale Olsen was participating in a surfing camp and a sea lion bit her leg, causing puncture wounds and bruising that required hospital treatment. This attack follows a series of similar incidents along the California coast, including attacks on a 15-year-old girl in Long Beach and a surfer in Oxnard. These incidents coincided with toxic algae blooms that caused domoic acid poisoning in marine animals, making sea lions sick and potentially more aggressive. The surf instructor noted that sea lion attacks are extremely rare and believes the animal was simply being territorial.

• Sea lion attacks on humans remain extremely rare occurrences along California beaches
• Recent toxic algae blooms caused domoic acid poisoning, potentially increasing aggressive behavior in marine mammals
• Multiple incidents have been reported from Monterey County to Southern California beaches
• Marine biologists advise beachgoers to avoid interaction with marine animals that appear sick or disoriented