We noticed right away that a purple flag, which means dangerous marine life, and a red flag with white lettering, which means beach is closed, were flying above the state park. Stingrays. If stung by a jellyfish apply vinegar and meat tenderizer. That includes the one at the top of this story, which was seen in Gulf Shores. Rip currents are life-threatening water streams that often occur in the vicinity of inlets, jetties and piers. And if you’re wondering why we aren’t including man o’ wars in the same category as jellyfish, it’s because they are not the same! Portuguese Man o’ War may not show up near your beach of choosing, but if you do see one, the likelihood of seeing others is quite high. The moon jellies have prompted purple flags to be added to the flag poles warning of the presence of dangerous marine life. He is the Morning Meteorologist, and you can catch his forecasts Monday-Friday on Today in Alabama. I looked at the Gulf Shores Beaches website and it's got the yellow and purple flags up at the moment. If you are caught in a rip current, experts advise: not fighting the current; swimming out of the current then to shore; if you can’t escape, float or tread water; call for assistance. The numbers are Gulf Shores 251-968-8433 and Orange Beach 251-981-7873. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Not only are dolphins one of the most intelligent and happy creatures in the world, they are also among the friendliest towards humans. Typically it … Even Man o’ War on the shore can be dangerous - they are capable of stinging even weeks after being washed on land. GSPS Marine is a full-service boat dealer in Gulf Shores, Alabama, near Mobile, offering a great selection of new and used boats for sale. Even a detached or severed man o’ war tentacle can painfully sting a human. Purple flags are currently flying at Pensacola, Fla., beaches, indicating potentially dangerous marine life after reports of sea lice in the water, AL.com reported. All older kids currently go to Gulf Shores Middle and High Schools. That’s because their stings can not only paralyze and kill other marine life, but they are extremely and excruciatingly painful to humans. Both Orange Beach and Gulf Shores have taken down the purple flags, flown when potentially dangerous marine life is present. Instead, he caught a shark. When they show up on beaches, it’s because of storms, wind and currents pushing them from deep water to shallow water. To make things even worse, their tentacles -- which are covered in venom-filled nematocysts -- can grow upwards of 30-100 feet long! 445 Dexter AvenueSuite 7000Montgomery, AL 36104(334) 288-1212. Jellyfish are no strangers to the beaches along the Gulf, but the uptick in man o’ wars floating in coastal waters and washing up on beaches is a bit more alarming. ... It’s a nuisance, but really necessary for marine life and even our beautiful white sand beaches. The marine animals have tentacles with stinging nematocysts that can deliver venom capable of paralyzing and killing small fish and crustaceans. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/july15/sea-creatures-to-avoid.html Do not touch irritated skin or wash with fresh water. PO Box 5454 . © 2021 Advance Local Media LLC. The risk for rip currents along the Alabama/Florida coast will reach low levels by Saturday and into next week. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - If you’ve been down to the beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, you’ve probably noticed purple flags flying high. Shore Bet - $179 avg/night - Gulf Shores - Amenities include: Swimming pool, Internet, Air Conditioning, TV, Satellite or cable, Washer & Dryer, Children Welcome, Parking, No Smoking, Heater Bedrooms: 2 Sleeps: 7 Minimum stay from 3 night(s) Bookable directly online - Book vacation rental 1588965 with Vrbo. That means the largest (or is it longest?) A man walks though a flooded parking lot as the outer bands of Hurricane Sally come ashore on September 15, 2020 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Tyler joined the WSFA 12 News team in March of 2020. Purple: dangerous marine life Storms and other coastal occurrences may cause dangerous conditions such as rip currents, also known as riptides. Both popular tourist spots are flying yellow flags, indicating the presence of moderately rough surf and rip currents. All rights reserved. Sharks. Double-red flags continue to fly along all of Alabama… Check out this recent blog outlining everything you need to know when swimming with dolphins in Panama City Beach The most popular of all Gulf Coast sea creatures is the bottlenose dolphin! The Alabama Marine Resources Division manages Alabama's marine fisheries resources with assessment and monitoring, applied research, and enforcement programs. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/21). Beach and Gulf Shores have taken down the purple flags up at the Gulf Coast the! Genetically-Identical individual creatures washed on land other than the basic: Medium threat/dangerous marine life including... 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