bad day for a walk on the beach

[MOUNTAIN-MAN]

TweetMillions of jellyfish-like creatures wash up on western U.S. beaches
Jellyfish-like creatures: File photo of Velella velella, or "by-the-wind sailors.": File photo of Velella velella, or "by-the-wind sailors." Rex Features: Steve Trewhella, FLPA
File photo of Velella velella, or "by-the-wind sailors."
Reuters 10 hr ago By Reuters
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PORTLAND Ore. (Reuters) - Millions of jellyfish-like creatures have washed up on beaches along the U.S. West Coast over the past month, giving the shoreline a purple gleam and, at times, an unpleasant odor, ocean experts said on Thursday.

Though not poisonous to most people, beachgoers should avoid the animals because their venom can cause stinging in the eyes and mouth, said Steve Rumrill, an expert at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Known as Velella velella to scientists, and more informally as "by-the-wind sailors," the creatures regularly cluster offshore each spring. But it is unusual for so many to wash ashore at once, especially this late in the summer, he said.

In addition to the millions that have been spotted on beaches from Southern California to Washington, millions more are floating near the ocean surface offshore, Rumrill added.

Ocean experts do not know why more by-the-wind sailors are washing up this year, or why they are arriving later than usual, said Erin Paxton, spokeswoman for the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Climate change may be a factor, but it is impossible to be certain, Rumrill said. "This is a wind-driven event, and winds are unusual this year," he said.

Though most people think the animals are jellyfish, they are in fact colonies of much smaller creatures known as hydrozoans, Rumrill said.

Hundreds of tiny organisms cluster together to create a gleaming purple body and a translucent sail-like protrusion that looks like a single animal.

(Editing by Daniel Wallis and Eric Walsh)

[jipped genes]

Tweetthey are kinda pretty. we do not have those in the gulf. we have cabbage head jellys they do not sting too bad but are pretty big and will foul up your line when fishing.

[MOUNTAIN-MAN]

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they are kinda pretty. we do not have those in the gulf. we have cabbage head jellys they do not sting too bad but are pretty big and will foul up your line when fishing.

Yea brother we have the big pink ones here they make plugging off the pier a pain

[jipped genes]

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Yea brother we have the big pink ones here they make plugging off the pier a pain

we surf fish so you wade out to the second gut and try to cast into the 3rd. those damn things hit your line and get all the tentacles on it which goo up on the eyes of your rod and if you touch them then your mouth or eyes or pick a booger it burns

also if you wear shorts in the surf it odes not hurt if they touch you but you will be all read the next day and very sensitive maybe a little discomfort.

i wont fish if they are present. ruins the experience and i never catch anything

[MOUNTAIN-MAN]

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we surf fish so you wade out to the second gut and try to cast into the 3rd. those damn things hit your line and get all the tentacles on it which goo up on the eyes of your rod and if you touch them then your mouth or eyes or pick a booger it burns

also if you wear shorts in the surf it odes not hurt if they touch you but you will be all read the next day and very sensitive maybe a little discomfort.

i wont fish if they are present. ruins the experience and i never catch anything

Same here when they swarm like that there is no use in fishing