VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Elena Viada was having a wonderful day at the beach in late August and wanted to go for one last swim before sunset. But now, she’s recovering from an infection in her foot and believes she was stung by a stingray in the bay off Red Tide Road in Virginia Beach on August 29.
Do stingrays live in Virginia?
Yes, and several of the local species are on display at the National Aquarium. They move up and down the bay with the season and salinity changes. Capt. John Smith was stung by the common cownose ray while fishing near the mouth of Virginia’s Rappahannock River in 1610.
What beaches have the most stingrays?
Round stingrays are common along the Pacific coastline of Southern California, and it’s not uncommon to see them roaming at the bottom of shallow, warmer waters in popular beaches like Seal Beach, Long Beach and San Diego.
Do stingrays swim close to shore?
Common throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast U.S., Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico, stingrays often swim within a few yards of shore, where they prey on tiny fish and shellfish. They are known to lie on the bottom and cover themselves with sand, which is how most people get stung.
What month is stingray season?
May through October is when you’ll see savvy beach goers doing the Stingray Shuffle! Stingrays come into shallow Gulf waters for their mating season and settle in; they get partially covered with sand which makes it difficult to see them.
What kind of rays are in Chesapeake Bay?
The cownose ray is a brown, kite-shaped ray with a long, whip-like tail. It is a highly migratory species along the Atlantic Coast that visits the shallow waters of the Chesapeake Bay in summer each year to give birth and mate.
Are there stingrays that don’t sting?
Electric rays are smaller than many other types of rays and do not have barbs or stings. Instead, they stun their prey with electric shocks.
What time of year are stingrays most active?
Fig. 15: Peak abundances in fall months is related to seasonal mating activity as round stingrays seek mating opportunities. During most times of the year male round stingrays are more abundant nearshore, but between the months of June and September-October female stingray abundance increases.
How close to shore do stingrays get?
3 to 10 yards
Stingrays can often be found very close to the beach. They’ll swim and even bury themselves in the sand under the water within 3 to 10 yards off the beach.
What are the odds of getting stung by a stingray?
Did you know that your chances of getting stung by a sting ray are statistically somewhere in the neighborhood of 1 to 5,000? One source says it’s the same as being bit by a shark, but I doubt that. Sting rays have a venom that causes pain up to two hours or more, as it courses through your body.
What to do if a stingray approaches you?
Stingray Injury Treatment
- Bathe Wound in Seawater and Remove Pieces.
- Stop Bleeding.
- Soak Wound in Hot Water For Pain Relief.
- Scrub Wound.
- Go to a Hospital Emergency Room.
- Follow Up.
How do you avoid getting stung by a stingray?
The best way to prevent being stung by a stingray is to avoid stepping on it when in the ocean by shuffling through the sand rather than lifting your feet and walking normally (commonly referred to as the “stingray shuffle”). This will warn a stingray of your approach, and it will likely swim away.
Do stingrays swim in shallow water?
Stingrays are commonly found in the shallow coastal waters of temperate seas. They spend the majority of their time inactive, partially buried in sand, often moving only with the sway of the tide.
What to do if you see a stingray in the water?
Seek emergency medical attention immediately. Otherwise, remain in the ocean and pull the barb out if you can. Allow the salt water to clean the wound while applying pressure over it to both slow the bleeding and encourage the venom to come out.
Where do people get stung by stingrays?
Stingrays usually sting people on the legs or arms, but stings on the neck, chest, or abdomen are also possible. Often, stings on the neck, chest, or abdomen are more likely to cause serious complications. This is because wounds on the neck, chest, or abdomen may cause more bleeding or may cause injury to other organs.
Does Chesapeake Bay have stingrays?
The Chesapeake Bay appears to be the northernmost extent of the Atlantic Stingray’s range. It inhabits the areas from July through October.
Are stingrays invasive in Chesapeake Bay?
Cownose rays have been referred to as an invasive species, when in fact they are not. The cownose ray is sometimes called a “doublehead” because of the indentation around its snout. This ray swims by flapping its fins like a bird.
How big do cownose rays get?
Common length of 3.8 feet (1.2 m) but rays as large as 7 feet (2.13 m) wide have been recorded.
Has a manta ray ever killed a human?
Manta Rays are not dangerous. They are even harmless and can’t hurt any diver or swimmer. They are usually very curious and swim around the divers. They can sometimes even jump out of the water to get rid off their parasites!
Can a manta ray hurt you?
Manta rays have long tails like stingrays. Only they don’t have barbs. That means that manta rays can’t sting you or anybody for that matter.
Is a stingray and a manta ray the same thing?
Manta rays are related to stingrays. Both have flattened body shapes and wide pectoral fins that are fused to the head. One of the biggest differences between manta rays and stingrays is that manta rays do NOT have a tail “stinger” or barb like stingrays. There are other differences as well.