HOUSTON – Hello there, from your fellow Houstonian! I know it’s already hot in Texas as we brace for the intense summer and humid heat we are blessed with every year.
It seems to get warmer as we get older – or is this just me getting older?
Anyway, I wasn’t much of a beach girl growing up, but there are plenty of Houston transplants ready to cool off for the season and sink their feet in the sand.
But before you head to Galveston, let me fill you in on what might be lurking in the waters. There have been some pretty strange and interesting creatures washed ashore in recent years.
Here’s what’s lurking on Galveston Beach and how to keep an eye out for it:
Sharks
Umm, yeah… we have sharks in those murky waters.
The typical sharks that swim here are bull, 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 the shark feeds on schooling fish, accidentally bites a human and swims away). These are cases of mistaken identity.
Snakes — but don’t worry much in the summer
Snakes on a — beach?
During winter, snakes tend to leave their nests and dens to enjoy the warmth of the sand. According to Galveston Island Park officials, dunes provide the perfect home for rattlesnakes because of their warm sand, good hunting grounds and protection from humans.
So, what do you do when you see a rattlesnake on the beach?
Officials said don’t panic, leave the legless reptiles alone, stay at least six feet away and alert a park staff.
Jellyfish
The most dangerous stinging jellyfish in the Gulf is the Portuguese man-of-war, a community of animals called zooids, officials said. This most obvious zooid is a purple float with tentacles dangling in the water. Lifting the tentacle from the skin and spraying the area with a saline solution brings relief.
What to do in case of a sting? Don’t rub the area with sand, officials said. It just makes all the stinging cells fire. And remember, just because the warship or jellyfish washed up on the beach doesn’t mean you’re safe. The tentacles can still sting. Avoid stomping them or hitting them with a stick.
Stingrays
Stingrays are common in shallow waters and can stick a sharp shaft into your foot or ankle if you step on them. This shaft, located at the base of the stingray’s tail, must be treated carefully, usually surgically, because the spines point backward and make easy removal impossible.
A preemptive way to avoid an encounter is to shuffle your feet while wading, which causes the stingray to move away.
Poisonous blue dragon
The Blue Dragons were spotted along Texas beaches in March, but they are 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, better known as blue dragon, is a type of nudibranch or sea snail.
Experts say you’ll know right away if you’re stung by a blue dragon. Experts say you’ll know right away if you’re stung by a blue dragon.
Currents
As more and more people head to the beach to enjoy the water, it is crucial to stay safe and know how to deal with rip currents.
To put the danger into perspective, rip currents cause significantly more deaths each year than shark attacks. Nationwide, rip currents claim about 100 lives each year, while shark attacks result in about one death per year. This year alone, two people died in Galveston due to rip currents.
The most dangerous wave pattern consists of straight waves moving from south to north, creating a strong current that moves out to sea. Rip currents are powerful and fast-moving channels of water that flow away from the coast, catching people by surprise and overwhelming even the strongest swimmers.
Before heading to the beach, check the current flag alert status with the Galveston Beach Patrol to ensure your safety. Visit their flag alert system for real-time updates on beach conditions and potential hazards.
Possible fecal contamination
The Galveston water isn’t that blue, but the color isn’t from the feces – I mean, I don’t think so (lol).
About 55% of beaches across the country experienced unsafe contamination levels for at least one day, according to a new 2022 survey from Environment America. By 2022, Texas’ coastline reached 90%.
People with diabetes, liver disease, cancer or other immune-suppressing conditions who swim in natural waters with open cuts or sores are at increased risk of infection, according to GCHD. Healthy people are extremely less likely to get an infection than sick people.
At the time of writing, the interactive map shows moderate to low bacteria levels. Make sure you plan ahead and check before swimming in the water.
Heat and sun
Because of the area’s triple-digit temperatures, you should protect your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, even on cloudy or overcast days.
You should wear a sunscreen with a high SPF (15 or higher); wear loose-fitting light-colored clothing, a hat and sunglasses. Also drink plenty of nonalcoholic, caffeine-free fluids to prevent dehydration, according to Galveston Beach Patrol.
Sand banks, troughs and holes
There are hidden deep spots in the surf that can be dangerous, especially for small children. As a result of powerful waves, holes are formed in the bottom near the coast that can be several meters wide. They can form at any water depth, so according to Galveston Island Beach Control, you can step into one while wading in very shallow water.
As for the sandbars, when you visit the beach you may see swimmers standing in the water far offshore, but you cannot see how deep the water is between the beach and the sandbar area where they are. The Gulf’s natural processes create a series of bars and troughs in the coastal areas of Texas. The height of the bar and the depth of the trough vary, but the water in the trough is sometimes ‘over your head’.
Do not attempt to reach the offshore sandbar unless you are a very good swimmer.
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