【ANN NEWS, ORANGE COUNTY】 A rare “uninvited guest” recently appeared on a beach in Orange County, Southern California. A snake suspected to be a highly venomous Yellow-bellied Sea Snake was found at Crystal Cove beach, drawing attention from local residents and marine experts.
According to CBS Los Angeles, Jackie Aguilar discovered the sea snake while walking with her family at Crystal Cove beach last Friday evening. The snake appeared sluggish at the time, and the family, unaware that it could be highly venomous, even tried to help it return to the ocean.
Marine naturalist Capt. Chad Steffen said after reviewing footage that although authorities have not yet officially confirmed the species, the snake’s appearance closely resembles that of a Yellow-bellied Sea Snake. This species is highly venomous, but is generally not aggressive and is quite clumsy and slow-moving out of the water.
Yellow-bellied Sea Snakes typically live in warmer waters farther south in the Pacific Ocean and are extremely rare along the Southern California coast. The report said the last recorded sighting in Orange County was at Newport Beach in 2018.
Experts said ocean waters off Southern California have been unusually warm this year, and a number of marine species rarely seen in local waters, including hammerhead sharks, have recently appeared in the area. Warmer ocean temperatures and a potential El Niño event may be associated with the northward movement of these unusual marine species.
Experts warned the public that if they encounter an unfamiliar snake or other marine animal on the beach, they should not touch it with their bare hands or attempt to return it to the ocean. They should keep their distance and notify the appropriate local authorities.
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