The toxicity of this particular bloom seems to be a lot higher, ” said a marine biologist. “Animals are in worse shape than they have been in the past.”

15-year-old Phoebe Beltran has several cuts on her right arm and was hospitalized following the confrontation with the animal on Sunday. Although she has since been released from the hospital and was well enough to return to school, she said the attack has left her shaken up.

Experts say frightening encounters with sea lions are becoming more common and the likely reason for recent attacks is a toxic algae bloom poisoning the marine mammals, leading to rare acts of aggression as they move to shallow waters and in closer proximity to beachgoers.

The Marine Mammal Care Center has been working to save sick sea lions in Southern California, including one on the shore of a beach. Despite the swift response time from authorities, the survival rate for the California sea lion is roughly 50%,

A 15-year-old girl was swimming in the water off Long Beach, California during tryouts for a junior lifeguard program when she was attacked by a sea lion, officials said.