Celebrating World Ocean Week

A MESSAGE FROM EMERALD KEEPERS Coronado is fortunate to have one of the top beaches in the nation. We must remember, we share the ocean environment with some of the most amazing creatures. If you ever watch an eagle or manta ray swim, you will forever be changed. Their grace and beauty are indescribable. This week we take a look at the round sting ray. A sting ray is beautiful to watch but can cause pain should you step on one. It is up to us to care for our beaches and ocean. Visit our website to find out how you can be an Emerald Keeper.

Q &A ROUND STINGRAY WITH UROBATIS HALLERI CORONADO LIFEGUARD CAPTAIN SEAN CAREY Q. What is the best way to treat a stingray wound? Soak it in uncomfortably hot wa- ter, 105 to 115 degrees. You need to soak it for 30 to 60 minutes to make the pain go away. The hot water breaks down the toxin. You are either going to have a small puncture wound or laceration from the barb. You need to disin- fect the wound, keep it clean, and EMERALD READ keep an eye on it. The biggest risk KICK-OFF from stingray stings is infection. In Partnership with the Coronado Public Library Q. What is the best way to avoid being stung by a stingray? Pick up your copy of The Photos by Neal Matthews Avoid going into its environment. Death and Life of Monterey If you do go into the water, try Bay, A Story of Revival by Southern California is known for its near perfect weather, beautiful to stay off the bottom. If you are Stephen R. Palumbi and beaches, and sunny skies, providing ideal conditions for beach on the bottom, shuffle your feet. Carolyn Sotka. Check out our goers and stingrays alike. Instead of picking up your feet, July events in partnership kind of drag your feet, and that WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? with the Coronado Public may scare them away. You can While there are several species A pregnant Library related to this round stingray also wear good swim fins like of stingrays along Coronado’s beautifully written book. in Glorietta Bay Duck Feet or Vipers that cannot beaches, the round ray is the Books are available at the be penetrated by the barb. Coronado Public Library and most abundant. They are grayish for purchase at Bay Books. brown in color, some are solid Q What kinds of warnings do or mottled. Their underside is Read about how a stunningly you post? whitish or light yellow. The tail of thriving ocean environment When we begin to see a lot of the round stingray is short and became threatened to people being stung by stingrays, thick with a long thin stinging destruction as humans we will fly a purple flag. The spine near the midpoint of the invaded the sea, scooping purple flag means marine pests. tail. up and marketing sea life. That could be jellyfish, stingrays, WHAT DOES IT EAT? How was this devastation or sharks. But normally, it means WHERE DOES IT LIVE? The juveniles eat small worms turned around? Through stingrays. You can always check Round sting rays prefer sandy and crabs, and as adults their extraordinary acts by with a lifeguard or our conditions or muddy bottoms and are diet changes to bivalve mollusks ordinary people, fierce boards located on all of our life- most often seen in the shallows and small fish. determination, and a close- guard towers. We will also make to depths 50 feet. They are knit passionate community. announcements if a lot of people good swimmers and cover HOW LONG DOES IT LIVE? are getting stung. themselves with sand or mud as Round rays typically live 10-12 JULY EMERALD READ camouflage. years. EVENTS Q Is there a season or time when more stings occur on our July 9: Book Talk LEARN MORE beaches? Bring your beach chair and More people are stung by sting- join us to talk about the The Coronado Public Library has books about stingrays for children and adults. rays in the spring and summer. book. Spreckels Park at 10am I have noticed there are more July 16: Discussion with stings when the water is warm author Dr. Stephen R. Palum- and when the surf is small. It bi, Director, Hopkins Marine seems stingrays prefer calmer Station, Stanford University water. During low tide, more (Online details to follow) 7pm people tend to be stung. I don’t’ know if it is the same for other July 21: Screening of Saving Rays Skates and Rays Stingrays Stingrays beaches. Otter 501. Discussion with by Jody by Rebecca by Martha by Shane SeaWorld Rescue Team. 7pm Sullivan Rake Sjonger E.H. Rustad McFee

For more information visit EMERALDKEEPERS.ORG Photo by Brian Lippe Emerald Keepers is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.