Surfer faced the 'unsettling ferocity' of a sick sea lion in Southern California
The March incident highlights an ongoing deadly outbreak as a neurotoxin ravages wildlife in Southern California.
A routine surf session in Southern California turned into a harrowing ordeal between surfer RJ LaMendola and a sea lion that chased him down and bit him.
"It had this look in its eye that it didn't want me there," the longtime surfer told the Ventura County Star, part of the Paste BN Network, of the March encounter. "It was a real strong battle, but I wasn't going to give up."
LaMendola's injury near Oxnard, California, highlights an ongoing a domoic acid outbreak that continued to plague Southern California into April, weeks after LaMendola's encounter. The acid poisons sea lions, making them sick and sometimes aggressive.
On April 15, Marine Mammal Care Center Los Angeles reported finding 10 dead animals along the coastline. The organization rescued several sea lions and is caring for "an overflowing amount of animals at our hospital facility."
At times, sea lions cannot get out of the incoming surf or show erratic behavior such as lunging or frantically moving in the water. Some animals are dying on the beach after having seizures.
Sickened animals can become disoriented and agitated. Symptoms include head bobbing, stargazing, foaming at the mouth, seizures and a loss of motor skills.
LaMendola recounted the battle on a social media post.
"It started as an ordinary session, just me and my board, about 150 yards from the shore, riding the waves in solitude," he wrote after being treated in the emergency room of St. John's Regional Medical Center, where an image shows him lying belly down on a gurney giving the hang loose sign. "The ocean was calm, the rhythm of the swells familiar — until, out of nowhere, a sea lion erupted from the water, hurtling toward me at full speed.
"Its mouth gaped wide, teeth flashing, and its eyes locked onto me with an unsettling ferocity," LaMendola continued. "My heart lurched as I instinctively yanked my board to the side, paddling frantically to evade it as it barreled forward, intent on crashing into me."
LaMendola fended off the animal time and again as it seemed intent on getting him. The sea lion ultimately caught him, not wanting to release, he said.
The surfer wrested himself free but not without a good bite to his butt. A tooth pierced his wetsuit, leaving a half-inch puncture and plenty of bruising around the area. He's been around wildlife and sea lions before without any issues.
"Never have I had one charge me, especially at that ferocity, mouth open," he said. "It really was out of like a horror movie."
Domoic acid wreaks havoc on wildlife
In spring 2025, scores of sick and dying sea lions started showing up along the Southern California coast. The Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute, a nonprofit organization that rescues and rehabilitates marine mammals in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, reported a deluge of calls.
The rapid growth of algae can cause elevated levels of the neurotoxin known as domoic acid. It accumulates in fish and can be harmful for seabirds and mammals. In spring 2025, CIMWI reported high mortality rates.
"The neurotoxin is crippling and killing sea lions and dolphins," Ruth Dover, the organization's managing director, previously said.
She called it heartbreaking for beachgoers to witness. The deadly outbreak also is taking a toll on the organization's volunteers, she said.
Most of the sick and dying are adult female California sea lions. Many have been pregnant, she said.
What to do if you see a sick, stranded sea lion
Dover called biting incidents unusual, saying they don't get such reports in every domoic acid event. But bites have been reported previously.
In 2023, four sea lion bite incidents were reported to CIMWI, officials said. Three came from surfers and one from a person working under a boat.
Authorities have asked people who do encounter a marine mammal to keep a safe distance as far away as possible.
The public should not try to assist the animal themselves. Experts say to not disturb, move, touch or feed the animal. Doing so can be dangerous and violate federal law.
Getting too close not only can be dangerous for people and their pets but also cause sick animals more stress. The sea lions also can act aggressively or may return to the ocean when they need to rest on the beach, which is part of their natural habitat.
How to help:
- If a stranded marine mammal is found in Ventura or Santa Barbara counties, Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute urged people to submit a report online at cimwi.org/online-rescue-form. The organization also has a hotline at 805-567-1505 but recommended online reports because of the heavy volume of calls and rescues.
- Elsewhere in California, people can call the NOAA hotline at 866-767-6114.
Contributing: Joel Shannon, Paste BN
Stacie N. Galang is news director of the Ventura County Star. She can be reached at stacie.galang@vcstar.com. Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com.