June 29, 2015
Harvey Cedars Beach Patrol/Facebook
This Portuguese man o' war washed up on the shore in Harvey Cedars Beach in 2015. The venomous jellyfish, which typically lives in tropical waters, was again found on the beach there Friday.
An invasion of venomous jellyfish has been occurring on the Jersey Shore recently.
First, it was in Harvey Cedars on June 21, when the local beach patrol posted a photo of a Portuguese man o' war jellyfish discovered on the beach.
Since then, several of the sea creatures have been found on the sand along the New Jersey coastline. According to NJ.com, more than two dozen washed up on the beach in Surf City recently, and a resident reported finding one Sunday in Stone Harbor.
The jellyfish are not often deadly but have tentacles that can reach more than six feet and can deliver extremely incredibly painful stings that can be administered even after they've washed up on shore.
Surf City Councilman Peter Hartney told NJ.com that weather conditions may have created ideal conditions for the jellyfish, which are actually colonies containing several different organisms.
"Our land happens to be in the direction of the wind and waves. And the water is warm, which is keeping them alive. They probably have enough food to sustain themselves."
According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, if stung by a man o' war, you should rinse it with lukewarm fresh water and carefully remove any parts of the tentacles still attached to the skin, wearing gloves of course. For a severe sting, seek immediate medical assistance.
