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 each year.
It’s seemingly getting hotter as we get older -- or is this just me getting older?
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Anyway, I wasn’t much of a beach girl growing up but there are a lot of Houston transplants ready to cool off for the season and sink their feet in some sand.
But before you head to Galveston, I do want to give a heads-up on what’s possibly lurking in the waters. We’ve had some pretty weird and interesting creatures wash ashore over the past several years.
Here’s what lurking at Galveston Beach and how to be on the lookout for them:
Sharks
Umm, yes ... we have sharks in those murky waters.
The typical sharks found swimming are bull, hammerhead, tiger, and blacktip sharks. Atlantic sharp nose sharks are the most common in the Gulf of Mexico as well.
Officials said most shark bites in the Galveston area are “hit and run” bites (not “attacks”, where the shark is feeding on schooling fish, bites a human by accident, and swims away). They’re cases of mistaken identity.
Snakes -- but don’t worry much in the summer
Snakes on a --- beach?
During the winter time, snakes tend to leave their nests and burrows to soak up the warmth of the sand. According to officials with Galveston Island Park, dunes make the perfect home for rattlesnakes due to their warm sand, good hunting grounds, and protection from humans.
So, what do you do if you see a rattlesnake at the beach?
Officials said don’t panic, leave the legless reptiles alone, stay at least 5 feet away, and alert a park staff.
Jelly fishes
The most dangerous stinging jelly in the Gulf is the Portuguese man-o-war, a community of animals called zooids, per officials. This most obvious zooid is a purple float with its tentacles dangling in the water. Lifting the tentacle from the skin and dousing the area with a saline solution brings relief.
What to do when stung? Do not rub the area with sand, officials said. It will only ensure that all the stinging cells fire. And remember just because the man-o-war or jellyfish is washed up on the beach does not mean that you are safe. The tentacles can still sting. Avoid stomping them or smacking them with a stick.
Stingrays
Stingrays frequent the shallow waters and can thrust a sharp shaft into your foot or ankle when stepped on. This shaft, located at the base of the stingray’s tail must be handled carefully, usually surgically, because the spines point backward and prevent easy removal.
A preventive way to avoid an encounter is to shuffle your feet while wading, causing the stingray to move away.
Venomous Blue Dragon
The Blue Dragons were spotted along Texas beaches in March but it’s still a rare find, according to Jace Tunnell, director for community engagement at the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
The blue glaucus, known more commonly as a blue dragon, is a type of nudibranch or sea slug.
Experts say that you will know immediately if you are stung by a blue dragon. Experts say that you will know immediately if you are stung by a blue dragon.
Currents
With more people heading to the beach to enjoy the water, it’s crucial to stay safe and know how to handle rip currents.
To put the danger in perspective, rip currents cause significantly more deaths annually than shark attacks. Nationwide, rip currents claim about 100 lives each year, whereas 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 involves 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 shore, catching people by surprise and overpowering even the strongest swimmers.
Before heading to the beach, check the current flag warning status with the Galveston Beach Patrol to ensure your safety. Visit their flag warning system for real-time updates on beach conditions and potential hazards.
Possible fecal contamination
The Galveston water is not that blue but the color is not from the fecal -- I mean I don’t think (lol).
According to a new study by Environment America in 2022, approximately 55% of beaches nationwide experienced at least one day with unsafe levels of contamination. In 2022, the Texas coastline 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 an increased risk for infection, according to GCHD. Healthy people are extraordinarily less likely to get an infection than the ill.
As of this writing, the interactive map shows moderate to low bacteria levels. Just make sure to plan ahead and check before swimming in the waters.
Heat and sun
Because of the triple digit temps in the area, you have to protect your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays -- even on cloudy or overcast days.
You should wear a high SPF sunscreen (15 or higher); wear loose-fitting light-colored clothing, a hat & sunglasses. Also, drink plenty of non-alcoholic, caffeine-free liquid to prevent dehydration, according to Galveston Beach Patrol.
Sand bars, troughs, and holes
There are hidden deep spots in the surf, which can be hazardous, especially for small children. Due to powerful waves, holes are formed in the bottom near shore that may be several yards wide. They can form at any water depth, so you may step into one while wading in very shallow water, according to Galveston Island Beach Control.
As for sand bars, when you visit the beach, you may see swimmers standing in waist-deep water far offshore, but you can not see how deep the water is between the beach and the sand bar area they are on. The natural processes of the Gulf create a series of bars and troughs in the nearshore areas of coastal Texas. The height of the bar and the depth of the trough vary, but the water in the trough is sometimes “over your head.”
Unless you swim very well, do not try to reach the sand bar offshore.