More than 900 stingray stings have been recorded on San Diego County beaches in the first half of 2026, the highest six-month total in at least five years according to lifeguard data cited by the Associated Press. The City of Solana Beach is urging swimmers at Fletcher Cove and nearby shores to take precautions before wading in.
The city published a stingray safety guide on Monday, Aug. 17, outlining how to avoid the camouflaged bottom-dwellers and what to do if one strikes. The core advice: shuffle your feet.
The 'stingray shuffle'
Round stingrays blend into sandy bottoms and sting instinctively when stepped on. The city's guide recommends three prevention steps: swim in crowded areas where human activity deters stingrays, stay alert for rays gliding in the shallows, and use the "stingray shuffle" when walking through shallow water. The technique means keeping both feet flat on the sea floor and sliding them forward; the vibrations prompt stingrays to swim away before contact.
If you get stung
A sting typically hits the foot and produces intense, wave-like throbbing pain that can radiate up the leg and cause cramping, according to the city's guide. The recommended treatment is to soak the affected area in hot water at the highest tolerable temperature without burning the skin, for one to two hours.
Dr. Christanne Coffey, who researches stingray injuries at UC San Diego Health, told ABC News that most stings don't require care beyond the hot-water soak. But if redness and swelling persist more than four or five days, a retained barb or infection may be the cause, and an X-ray is warranted.
The city advises seeking medical attention if a puncture wound shows redness, swelling or discharge after the barb is removed.
Why 2026 is worse
Marine biologists point to a heat wave off the Southern California coast. Chris Lowe, professor of marine biology and director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, said in an Aug. 13 report by Spectrum News that warming waters are drawing the subtropical species northward and closer to shore.
"There can be so many that they actually carpet the bottom, like you can't see sand," Lowe said. "During El Niños, we get more of them up from the south, and they come closer to shore. So this year, we're expecting record numbers."
Bolsa Chica and Huntington State Beaches in Orange County have already logged more than 3,100 stingray incidents in 2026, double the total for all of 2025, according to lifeguard data cited in the same report.
Solana Beach's Marine Safety Department oversees beach safety at Fletcher Cove and surrounding areas. Beachgoers who feel a sharp sting should head to the nearest lifeguard tower for hot water treatment and, if symptoms worsen over several days, follow up with a doctor. The city's full guide is available online.
