A rare sea snake has turned up on a Southern California beach, giving beachgoers an unusual wildlife encounter and raising an obvious question: how dangerous is it? The snake was spotted at Crystal Cove State Beach in Orange County last week. Video from the encounter showed the animal moving slowly along the beach while people tried to help it back into the water. Experts said the animal strongly resembles a yellow-bellied sea snake, a species known for its potent venom. Officials have not formally confirmed the identification, however.
The sighting is particularly unusual because yellow-bellied sea snakes normally live in warmer tropical waters farther south.
