'Incredibly venomous' sea snake spotted on SoCal beach

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A yellow-bellied sea snake was seen in the Oxnard area on Oct. 15. (Photo courtesy of Anna Iker)

An "incredibly venomous" sea snake was spotted along the Southern California coast this week, and according to a local environmental group, it may be the result of climate change and El Niño.

A yellow-bellied sea snake, which has some of the most poisonous venom in the world, was recently spotted in the Silver Strand beach area in Oxnard, according to a blog post by local environmental group Heal The Bay.

 

"The last time the yellow-bellied snake was spotted in California was in the early 1980’s during an El Niño," the blog reads.

 

Heal the Bay says if spotted, there is "no need to panic" but do not handle it.

Instead, take photos, note the exact location and report sightings in California to iNaturalist and Herp Mapper.

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