The Pacific Ocean is teeming with life, and we see signs of it all along the Oregon coastline. From the spouts of giant whales feeding just off the coast, to the tiny creatures that wash up on the beach, if you enjoy observing marine life, this is the place to be. Every year in late spring/early summer, Oregon’s beaches are the site of an incredible phenomenon: the blue tide.
The next time you go for a stroll on one of Oregon’s beaches, you might be surprised to find a carpet of brilliant blue, jelly-like creatures covering the sand.
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These little organisms are Velella velella, also called “by-the-wind-sailors.” Once thought to be similar to jellyfish, they’re actually hydrozoa, in the same taxonomic class as Portugese man ‘o war.
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What appears to be one organism is actually an entire colony of many, and they’re all connected by a system that delivers food and gets rid of waste. Their triangular sails help transport them across the water.
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Valella valella are carnivores, and feed on plankton. They capture the plankton with tiny tentacles that emit a toxin that’s usually harmless to humans.
JNBPhotography/Getty Images Some people are more sensitive to the toxin than others, though, so it’s not recommended to handle them. If you do, make sure you wash your hands before touching your face or rubbing your eyes. Otherwise, you might end up with some itchy, irritated skin.
The tiny by-the-wind-sailors have no control over their movement, and when the strong winds blow in spring and summer, they become stranded on the beach.
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Found in every ocean on the planet, these little creatures can wash up on any of Oregon’s beaches, and you’ll often find them in late May and early June.
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Some beaches may have just a scattering of Vellela vellela…
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…but on other beaches, you might find a thick, blue carpet. Once they’re stranded, these gelatinous organisms slowly die, their bright azure color fading to clear. They also start to smell rather unpleasant, so get a look at them soon.
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Have you seen the blue tide yet this year? Tell our readers which beaches to visit to see it for themselves!
John Vonderlin/flickr
Arnaud Abadie/flickr
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Some people are more sensitive to the toxin than others, though, so it’s not recommended to handle them. If you do, make sure you wash your hands before touching your face or rubbing your eyes. Otherwise, you might end up with some itchy, irritated skin.
bobbushphoto/GettyImages
Sherri Barras/flickr
lisad1724/Getty Images
lucagal/Getty Images
To spot more wildlife from the beach, check out this cobblestone beach, where you can see seals frolicking just a few feet from shore.
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