Interestingly, stingrays are often seen in close proximity to people. Experts say they can mistake humans for the squid and octopus that they would normally eat. The most common thing is when a person is walking on the beach with three or four rays swimming right below them. From underwater, it looks like there's a moving shadow and they might think "hmm, what's that." And then bam. A ray who jumps out of the water goes right up to their foot to check it out.