SOLANA BEACH, Calif. — An injured sea lion spotted on a San Diego-area beach prompted lifeguards to place shark warning signs along a stretch of beach on Thursday.

A jogger reported the sea lion with a missing tail and gash on its back, washed up on the beach.

SeaWorld San Diego experts responded to the area but said the sea lion later died due to the severity of its injuries. They confirmed a shark bit the female sea lion.

Lifeguards posted aggressive shark advisories for beachgoers from Cardiff Reef in the north to Seaside State Beach in the south, officials said.

There was no immediate word on the type of shark involved.

The incident Thursday marks the sixth shark sighting over the last several weeks in the waters off San Diego.

Shark sightings several days in a row prompted shark advisories in Del Mar in July. A shark sighting in Coronado also forced lifeguards to post signs warning beachgoers about the presence of sharks.

A shark advisory means that a shark has been spotted in the water and swimmers should enter at their own risk.

Check out the list below for tips on avoiding any possible shark attacks:



Avoid the beach at dusk and dawn

Stay away from river mouths

Pay attention to lifeguards and their warnings

This story was originally published by Allison Horn on KGTV in San Diego.