Several exotic animals have been spotted in and around the San Francisco Bay

You may already know that El Niño will pummel California with several inches of rain this winter, but did you know that it is also to blame for bizarre animal sightings in and around the San Francisco Bay?

Have you ever heard of a yellow-bellied sea snake? If not, that’s because these venomous reptiles are a non-native species that were last spotted in the Golden State in the late 1980’s. In recent months, these animals have been washing ashore due to unusually warm waters off the California coastline. It’s one of the most poisonous snakes in the world, so make sure to exercise caution if you spot one of these creatures on the beach.

Higher ocean temperatures from El Niño has made Northern California the ideal hunting spot for Great white sharks. These ferocious creatures have flocked to the region in droves, which could increase the likelihood of great white shark encounters. There have also been numerous sightings of sea hares, described as purple, gelatinous blobs, which are rarely seen this far north.

Have you seen one of the animals mentioned? Let us know in the comments section!