The Trustees of Reservations was first to sound the alarm last week on Martha's Vineyard, posting Wednesday on Facebook:
Caution at Norton Point! Just heard a report from Ranger Rick that about a dozen Portuguese Man O' Wars have washed up on the beach. Walkers, please watch your step!
This means Cape Codders will also want to keep an eye out for the pesky sea creatures when heading to the beach.
What you should do if you get stung by a Portuguese Man o' War, according to medical and scientific papers cited on Wikipedia:
- Remove any parts of the tentacles clinging to your skin, but don't use fingers or you'll risk more burning
- Rinse the affected area with salt water — not fresh water (except as below) or vinegar, which can make things worse
- Ease the sting out of the toxins by treating the affected area with hot water
- If your eyes are affected, flood them with room-temperature water for 15 minutes and seek a doctor's care if this does not help
- Don't tell the doctor you were stung by a jellyfish: Jellyfish toxins are different from the venom in Portuguese Man o' War tendrils
In the water or on the beach, the creatures deserve a wide berth. Watch the National Geographic video with this story to see how they operate.
The name Man o' War comes from the resemblance of its gas-bladder, which remains above the water's surface, to an early warship under full sail.
Not a jellyfish, the Portuguese Man o' War is a composite creature known as a siphonophore, according to marine biologists: It's made up of multiple tiny organisms working together — not unlike the crew of an actual fighting ship.
It uses its venomous tendrils, which can be 30, 40 and even 100 feet long, to parayze prey. But the harsh toxins can also inflict a stinging burn on human skin with welts that can last for days; in some cases, worse complications, including allergic reactions, can ensue.
The Portuguese Man o' War is a familiar summer visitor to Island beaches, but is making its 2013 debut a few weeks earlier than usual, according to the local newspaper reports.
Have you ever tangled with a Portuguese Man o' War? Tell us in the comments.