Advice on sting rays from Shark Lab's Chris Lowe

Marine biologist Chris Lowe started tracking sting rays at Seal Beach about 15 years ago when lifeguards reported scores of beachgoers getting stung. That’s still the case today and there’s a couple reasons for that:

• The Rays: There are as many as 16,000 of them – so numerous in places that the creatures obscured the sand below. The bulk of them are on the northe end of the beach near River’s End restaurant – dubbed “Ray Bay.” The rays are lured by the white sand and warm water coming out of the power plant near the San Gabriel chael, Lowe said. Years ago, workers tried culling them, but it didn’t work – they just came back, Lowe said.

• Calmer seas, more rays: The researchers leaed the rays would come in when the waves were gentle and leave when they got more rough.

• Shuffle: Most locals know to do the stingray shuffle. Step lightly, says the online surf and swim info site, Surfline. If you feel something squishy, step elsewhere if you can. Rays are shy and might just flutter away. They sting as a defense mechanism.

• If you get stung: Go see the lifeguard and put the stung region in a bucket of very hot water.

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