Aucklanders are being warned to keep an eye on children and pets following the discovery of sea slugs at beaches.

It’s nearly a year since the poisonous slugs caused death and illness in dogs last winter.

The Auckland Regional Council says divers have found sea slugs underwater at a number of North Shore beaches, and at Mission Bay and near Rangitoto Island.

Spokeswoman Louise Mason says the slugs that were found will be tested for poison and the results will be available later this month.

The Auckland Regional Council and Cawthron Institute have been surveying sub-tidal areas of Auckland beaches where slugs were found to have caused death and illness in dogs last winter.

Divers have found Narrow Neck Beach is again a ‘hot spot’ with 48 toxic slugs found there.
Sea slugs were also found underwater at a number of North Shore beaches, and at Mission Bay and near Rangitoto Island.

Public Health officials say it means children and pets still need to be supervised on Hauraki Gulf beaches.