Rare, Highly Venomous Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake Washes Ashore at Crystal Cove and Is Returned to Sea

On Sept. 11, a yellow-bellied sea snake — a fully aquatic and highly venomous tropical species — was seen washed up at Crystal Cove in Orange County and was returned to the ocean by a beachgoer who filmed the encounter. This is the first confirmed sighting of the species in California since 2018 and only the sixth confirmed observation in the state since 1972.

What Happened

Local resident Jackie Aguilar told CBS News Los Angeles that she recorded the snake and provided the footage to the outlet. In the video, the animal appears sluggish and Aguilar uses what looks like an oar to pick it up and toss it back into the water. She said she did not initially know the snake was venomous; family members warned her, and later research indicated it matched the yellow-bellied sea snake.

Venom, Behavior and Rarity

According to the Australian Museum, yellow-bellied sea snakes carry highly toxic venom with potent neurotoxins and myotoxins; bites can lead to paralysis and, in severe cases, death. Experts note the species is not typically aggressive and seldom bites people, but they also say these snakes generally wash ashore only when sick or injured.

Stock image of a yellow-bellied sea snakeCredit: getty

Why It May Have Appeared in California

Scientists have warned that this season's Super El Niño — which is producing unusually warm Pacific waters — could push tropical and subtropical marine species northward into Southern California. The Los Angeles Times cited Greg Pauly of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County saying this is the first confirmed yellow-bellied sea snake in California since 2018 and only the sixth since 1972. Douglas McCauley of UC Santa Barbara and other researchers have said warm-water events often bring unexpected tropical visitors.

Context And Reactions

The sighting follows other unusual marine occurrences along Southern California's coast this year, including reports of a hammerhead shark and a bluefin tuna. Captain Chad Steffen of Dana Wharf Sportsfishing and Whalewatching described the snake as "very venomous" but noted that yellow-bellied sea snakes are generally not aggressive. People magazine said it reached out to the Newport Bay Conservancy for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

"You don't really know what's in there," Aguilar told CBS News Los Angeles. "But now, like seeing it, I'm more scared."

Safety note: If you encounter an unfamiliar marine animal onshore, keep a safe distance and contact local wildlife authorities or a marine rescue organization rather than handling the animal yourself.