Overview

• Phoebe Beltran was bitten by a sea lion during a junior lifeguard swim test on March 30, 2025, in Long Beach, California, about 25 feet from shore.
• Beltran suffered bites and scratches on her arm but did not require advanced medical treatment and has since returned to school.
• Officials could not confirm if the sea lion involved was sick, though experts note toxic algal blooms producing domoic acid are causing erratic and aggressive behavior in marine mammals.
• The ongoing toxic algae bloom, exacerbated by warming ocean temperatures and pollution, has sickened hundreds of marine mammals along the Southern California coast since February 2025.
• Public safety warnings remain in place, urging people to avoid distressed marine mammals as wildlife organizations struggle to manage the surge in affected animals.