17-04-2025
Sea Lion Killed After Terrorizing Surfers at the Wedge (Video)
Currently, in Southern California, scores of marine life are falling ill, and specifically sea lions. It's due to a toxic algae bloom permeating through the water, which, filled with domoic acid, can make the mammals sick, both mentally and physically. In some cases, the domoic acid can even make them more aggressive – sort of like a zombie apocalypse in real life. But with sea lions.
It's not a joke, though. It's a serious situation, and one unfolding presently in Californian waters. Marine mammal care centers are bursting at the seams with sick sea lions, and there's been a couple reported cases of attacks. And now, one entirely cleared the lineup at the Wedge. Watch below:
Per YouTuber, DingoSaidSo, who captured the footage:
'This could have been one of the wildest things I've ever seen at The Wedge, and I've seen a lot of crazy things at The Wedge. The original Wedge Crew is pretty well known for their 'regulation' of the wedge back in the day, but I'm pretty certain nobody has ever run the lineup like this sea mixing in a few solo bodysurfing waves as well!
'It's not a secret in Southern California that there's a disease going around the sea lion population that is causing them to be aggressive towards humans. The word is out in the surfing community to stay away from sea lions and after seeing this sea lion regulate at the Wedge I can see why.'
The surfers and bodyboarders scramble to shore, as the sea lion terrorizes the lineup. It even beaches itself, continuing to puff its chest and bark, aggressively asserting itself against the crew of wave-riders enjoying an early season pulse of swell at the Wedge. But reportedly, no Ventura County last month, however, a surfer was bitten by an aggressive, sick sea lion. RJ LaMendola was hospitalized after the attack, calling the creature 'demonic.' He added: 'This isn't normal sea lion behavior. It's something darker, something dangerous.'
As for the sea lion at the Wedge on Tuesday, it was beyond saving and experts ended up euthanizing it. Veterinarian Dr. Alissa Deming told ABC7:
"It was showing signs that were classic for chronic domoic acid intoxication, and because of that -- and it not being treatable, and the significant concern for public safety -- the only option in this animal's case was to humanely euthanize it."
Stay safe out there.
