Latest news with #RJLaMendola
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Surfer fights for survival after vicious sea lion attack off coastline: 'Its eyes locked onto me with an unsettling ferocity'
A surfer in Southern California had a terrifying encounter with a sea lion off Oxnard, USA Today reported. Although the attack seemed to come out of nowhere and ended with the surfer seeking treatment at a hospital, it wasn't the animal's fault, as experts later revealed. RJ LaMendola was peacefully surfing and wasn't aware of any animals nearby when a sea lion approached him about 150 yards offshore. "Out of nowhere a sea lion erupted from the water, hurtling toward me at full speed," he wrote on Facebook. "Its mouth gaped wide, teeth flashing, and its eyes locked onto me with an unsettling ferocity." LaMendola tried swimming away, dodging, fighting off the sea lion's attacks, and keeping the board between him and the animal, but it still managed to bite him severely on the left buttock. "I don't know how to describe the fear that gripped me in that moment," he said. "So far from shore, so helpless, staring into the face of this creature that looked like nothing I'd ever seen — its expression was feral, almost demonic, devoid of the curiosity or playfulness I'd always associated with sea lions." When he got out of the sea lion's grip, it pursued him all the way back to shore. Luckily, LaMendola made it out of the water and drove himself to the hospital for treatment. Later, LaMendola spoke to experts at the Channel Islands Marine Wildlife Institute about the incident. They revealed that an algal bloom off Malibu has affected sea life, including more than 50 sea lions. The domoic acid they ingested from a single-celled organism called Pseudo-nitzschia can damage the heart but, perhaps more importantly, also causes brain damage. "It's a neurological condition caused by toxic algae blooms, and it's driving these creatures into aggressive, uncharacteristic behavior," LaMendola wrote. "The sea lion that attacked me wasn't just acting out — it was sick, its mind warped by this poison coursing through its system." Algal blooms aren't random. They occur more and more often due to nutrient pollution in our waters. The nutrients can come from wastewater or agricultural runoff — two forms of pollution that cause microbes in the water to multiply out of control. Depending on the microbes, they can block out light and kill off aquatic plants, choke fish, and poison wildlife, pets, and humans. You can do your part to prevent algal blooms by limiting your use of fertilizer in your yard. No fertilizer on your lawn means no nutrient-heavy runoff to pollute your local waterways. To make this easier, you can switch to a natural lawn that doesn't need as much maintenance as turf grass. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
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.
CBS News
23-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Surfer bitten by sick sea lion off Oxnard coast
A surfer was sent to the hospital after a sick sea lion attacked him off the Oxnard coast. The surfer, RJ LaMendola, said he was roughly 150 yards away from the share when the sick sea lion started chasing after him. "I don't know how to describe the fear that gripped me in that moment," he wrote on Facebook. "So far from shore, so helpless, staring into the face of this creature that looked like nothing I'd ever seen—its expression was feral, almost demonic, devoid of the curiosity or playfulness I'd always associated with sea lions." Since late February, wildlife officials have warned beachgoers about a toxic algae outbreak affecting marine wildlife in the waters off the California coast. More than 50 sea lions became sick after ingesting domoic acid in Malibu. Wildlife officials said that domoic acid is "an algal bloom resulting from a single-celled organism called Pseudo-nitzschia." When toxic, domoic acid can cause brain and heart damage, even in low doses. Animals and humans can become sick from ingesting domoic acid from contaminated fish or coming in contact with infected wildlife. "Signs in marine mammals include seizures, a craning head motion known as 'stargazing,' and highly lethargic or comatose states," the California Wildlife Center said in a statement. "These animals are suffering and confused; do not interact directly with animals such as sea lions in distress as they may lunge and bite without warning." The algae bloom spans as far down as Orange County.
