A territorial dispute erupts among sea lions in La Jolla, California. Photo: Ronen Tivony/NurPhoto via Getty Images
A 9-year-old girl was attacked by a sea lion while surfing at Asilomar State Beach near Monterey last week in what authorities are calling a first for the region, per the San Francisco Chronicle.
The latest: Corale Olsen was sent to the emergency room with a non-life-threatening leg injury after the animal bit her — a move her surf instructor described as territorial, KSBW first reported.
What they're saying: While such attacks are rare, human-sea lion encounters are more likely to occur in areas along the coast where the species lives in close proximity to people, Marine Mammal Center spokesperson Giancarlo Rulli told the Chronicle.
Threat level: Males can become territorial while hunting. Exposure to domoic acid, a neurotoxin from algal blooms, can also result in erratic or aggressive behavior.
If a sea lion approaches, back away slowly and calmly to avoid triggering defensive behavior, per NOAA guidelines.
