HOUSTON – Hello from your fellow Houstonian! I know it’s already hot in Texas as we prepare for the intense summer and humid heat we are blessed with every year.
It seems to be getting warmer as I get older – or is it just me getting old?
Anyway, I wasn’t much of a beach girl growing up, but there are plenty of Houston transplants who are ready for the season to chill and put their feet in the sand.
But before you head to Galveston, I want to warn you about what might be lurking in the waters. Over the past few years, some pretty strange and interesting creatures have washed up on our shores.
Here’s what’s lurking on Galveston Beach and how to watch out for them:
Sharks
Umm, yes… we have sharks in those murky waters.
Typical sharks that swim are bull sharks, hammerhead sharks, tiger sharks, and blacktip sharks. Atlantic sharpnose sharks are also most common in the Gulf of Mexico.
Officials said most shark bites in the Galveston area are “hit-and-run” bites (not “attacks” where a shark feeds on schooling fish, accidentally bites a person and swims away). They are cases of mistaken identity.
Snakes — but don’t worry too much in the summer
Snakes on — beach?
During the winter season, snakes tend to leave their nests and burrows to soak up the heat from the sand. According to Galveston Island Park officials, the dunes make the perfect home for rattlesnakes because of their warm sand, good hunting grounds and protection from humans.
So what do you do if you see rattlesnakes on the beach?
Officials said don’t panic, leave the legless reptiles alone, stay at least 5 feet away and notify park staff.
Jelly fish
The most dangerous stinging jelly in the Gulf, officials say, is the Portuguese man-o-war, a community of animals called zooids. This most visible zooid is a purple floater with tentacles hanging in the water. Lifting the tentacle from the skin and dousing the area with saline brings relief.
What to do when stung? Do not sand the area, officials said. It only ensures that all the stinging cells fire. And remember, just because a war or a jellyfish washes up on a beach doesn’t mean you’re safe. The tentacles can still sting. Avoid stomping or slapping the sticks.
Stingrays
Stingrays often visit shallow waters and can drive a sharp mark into your foot or ankle when stepped on. Located at the base of the stingray’s tail, this shaft must be handled with care, usually surgically, because the spines point backwards and prevent easy removal.
A preventative way to avoid an encounter is to shuffle your feet while wading, causing the stingray to move away.
A poisonous blue dragon
Blue kites were spotted along Texas beaches in March, but they’re still a rare find, according to Jace Tunnell, director of community engagement at the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
The blue glaucus, more commonly known as the blue dragon, is a species of nudibranch or sea slug.
Experts say that if you are stung by a blue dragon, you will know immediately. Experts say that if you are stung by a blue dragon, you will know immediately.
Currents
As more and more people head to the beach to enjoy the water, it’s important to stay safe and know how to handle strong currents.
To put the danger into perspective, rip currents cause significantly more deaths annually than shark attacks. Rip currents claim about 100 lives each year across the country, while shark attacks result in about one death a year. Two people have died in Galveston this year alone due to rip currents.
The most dangerous wave pattern involves straight waves moving from south to north, creating a strong current that moves out to sea. Rip currents are strong, fast-moving channels of water that run away from shore, surprising people and overwhelming even the strongest swimmers.
Before you head to the beach, check the current warning status with the Galveston Beach Patrol to ensure your safety. Visit their flag warning system for up-to-date information on beach conditions and potential hazards.
Possible fecal contamination
Galveston water isn’t that blue, but the color isn’t from feces – I guess I don’t think so (lol).
According to a new 2022 study by Environment America, approximately 55% of beaches nationwide experienced at least one day of unsafe levels of contamination. In 2022, the Texas coast was 90%.
People with diabetes, liver disease, cancer or other immune-suppressing conditions who swim in natural bodies of water with open cuts or sores are at increased risk of infection, according to the GCHD. Healthy people are extraordinarily less susceptible to infection than sick people.
At the time of writing, the interactive map shows moderate to low levels of bacteria. Plan and check before swimming in the waters.
Heat and sun
With temperatures in the triple digits in this area, you need to protect your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays—even on overcast or cloudy days.
You should wear sunscreen with a high SPF (15 or higher); wear loose, light-colored clothing, a hat, and sunglasses. Also, drink plenty of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids to prevent dehydration, according to the Galveston Beach Patrol.
Sand bars, gutters and holes
There are deep spots hidden in the surf that can be dangerous, especially for small children. Because of the strong waves, holes form in the bottom near the shore that can be several yards wide. They can form in any water depth, so according to Galveston Island Beach Control, you can walk into one while wading in very shallow water.
As for sandbars, when you visit a beach, you can see swimmers standing in waist-deep water far from shore, but you can’t see how deep the water is between the beach and the sandbar they’re on. Natural processes in the Persian Gulf create a series of bars and troughs in coastal areas of coastal Texas. The height of the bar and the depth of the trough vary, but the water in the trough is sometimes “overhead”.
If you are not a very good swimmer, do not try to reach the sand in the sea.
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