HUSTON – 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.
Apparently it’s getting hotter as we get older — or is it just me?
Anyway, I wasn’t much of a beach girl growing up, but there are plenty of Houston transplants ready to chill out for the season and sink their toes in some sand.
But before you head to Galveston, I want to take a look at what might be lurking in the waters. We’ve had some pretty weird and interesting creatures come ashore over the past few years.
Here’s what’s lurking on Galveston Beach and how to be on the lookout for them:
Sharks
Umm, yes… we have sharks in those murky waters.
Typical sharks found swimming are bull, hammerhead, tiger and blacktip sharks. Atlantic tip 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). They are cases of mistaken identity.
Snakes – but don’t worry too much in the summer
Snakes on a beach —?
During the winter, snakes tend to leave their nests and dens to soak up the warmth of the sand. According to Galveston Island Park officials, the dunes are 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 a rattlesnake on the beach?
Officials said don’t panic, leave the legless reptiles alone, stay at least 5 feet away and alert park staff.
Jellyfish
The most dangerous stinging jelly in the Persian Gulf is the Portuguese man, a community of animals called zooids, according to officials. This most visible zooid is a purple swimmer with its tentacles hanging in the water. Lifting the tentacle from the skin and smearing the area with a saline solution brings relief.
What to do when bitten? Do not sand the area, officials said. It will only ensure that all the stinging cells fire. And remember just because a man-of-war or jellyfish washed up on the beach doesn’t mean you’re safe. The tentacles can still sting. Avoid kicking or clubbing them.
Stingrays
Stingrays frequent shallow waters and can drive a sharp shaft into your foot or ankle when you step on it. This shaft, located at the base of the spine’s tail, must be handled with care, usually surgically, because the spines point backward and prevent easy removal.
A preventative way to avoid a meeting is to shuffle your feet while walking, causing your back to move away.
Poisonous Blue Dragon
Blue dragons were spotted along Texas beaches in March, but 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, more commonly known as a blue dragon, is a type of bat or merman.
Experts say you’ll know right away if you’ve been bitten by a blue dragon. Experts say you’ll know right away if you’ve been bitten by a blue dragon.
STREAMS
With more people heading to the beach to enjoy the water, it’s essential to stay safe and know how to handle rip currents.
To put the danger in 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 a year. Just this year, 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 offshore. Rip currents are powerful, fast-moving channels of water that flow far from shore, catching people by surprise and overwhelming 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
Galveston water isn’t that blue, but the color isn’t from feces — I mean I don’t think so (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 wounds are at an increased risk for infection, according to the GCHD. Healthy people are extremely less likely to get an infection than sick people.
As of writing, the interactive map shows moderate to low levels of bacteria. Just be sure to plan ahead and check before swimming in the waters.
Heat and sun
Because of the triple-digit temperature in the area, you need to 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 light colored loose clothing, hats and sunglasses. Also, drink plenty of non-alcoholic, caffeine-free fluids to prevent dehydration, according to the Galveston Beach Patrol.
Sand bars, troughs and holes
There are deep hidden spots in the surf that can be dangerous, especially for small children. Because of the powerful waves, holes are created in the bottom near the shore that can be several meters wide. They can form in any depth of water, so you could run into one while wading in very shallow water, according to Galveston Island Beach Control.
As for the sandbars, when you visit the beach, you can see swimmers standing in the seawater, but you can’t see how deep the water is between the beach and the area of the sandbar where they are. The natural processes of the Gulf create a series of bars and valleys in the nearshore 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”.
If you are not a very good swimmer, do not attempt to reach the sandbar offshore.
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