Hordes of tiny blue ocean creatures called Velella velella, or by-the-wind sailors, have washed up on Northern California beaches in March, 2024. Pictured: Velella velella at Tomales Bay on March 14.

“These blue jellyfish-like creatures use their translucent, triangular sails to free-float around the ocean,” Point Reyes National Seashore said in a March 20 Facebook post.

Cape Lookout National Seashore, Oak Island and Sunset Beach are among the areas cautioning visitors to watch where they step, due to stinging capabilities of the balloon-like creatures.

Weird sea creature ‘balloons’ are washing up on North Carolina beaches - here’s what they are - Officials are issuing warnings for Portuguese man-of-war along a roughly 150-mile stretch from ...

Cape Lookout National Seashore, Oak Island and Sunset Beach are among the areas cautioning visitors to watch where they step, due to stinging capabilities of the balloon-like creatures.

“These blue jellyfish-like creatures use their translucent, triangular sails to free-float around the ocean,” Point Reyes National Seashore said in a March 20 Facebook post.

Perry Lynch Howard is a resident sound artist at Canaveral National Seashore, living and working in the Doris Leeper House for about two months, seen on Feb. 23, 2024.

“These blue jellyfish-like creatures use their translucent, triangular sails to free-float around the ocean,” Point Reyes National Seashore said in a March 20 Facebook post.

Cape Lookout National Seashore, Oak Island and Sunset Beach are among the areas cautioning visitors to watch where they step, due to stinging capabilities of the balloon-like creatures.