Vibrant and Venomous: Portuguese Man-O-War Washing Onto Hilton Head Island Beaches

Hilton Head Island, S.C. — Right on schedule, the vibrant yet venomous Portuguese Man-O-War is washing ashore on beaches in the Hilton Head Island area. Known for its long, barbed tentacles, this marine creature can deliver a sting that induces excruciating pain and can even cause serious health reactions in humans, even after death. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that we are land mammals, and their home is the ocean.

Despite its jellyfish-like appearance, the Portuguese man-o-war is neither a jellyfish nor a single organism. Instead, it is a colony of specialized individual polyps functioning together. According to the South Carolina Department of Resources, one polyp forms the blue-purple, gas-filled float that bobs along the ocean’s surface, while other polyps serve as feeding tentacles, defense structures, or reproductive organs.

Sightings of the distinctive purple-blue blobs have been reported by residents at various locations, including Coligny Beach Park, Port Royal Plantation, Folly Field, and Hunting Island over the weekend. Erin Weeks, a spokesperson for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, noted that while shared photos suggest these are indeed Portuguese Man-O-War, the agency had not yet received formal reports of the sightings as of Monday afternoon.

According to Weeks, strong winds often push these creatures onto South Carolina’s shores, as the Man-O-War lacks the ability to swim and instead relies on ocean currents and winds to travel. Its signature float rides the waves, allowing it to drift along the coast.

“Fortunately, this usually happens in the cooler months when there are fewer beachgoers and swimmers,” Weeks said, regarding the timing of these East Coast sightings.

Recent sightings on Tybee and Sullivan’s Islands last week indicated the creatures would soon arrive in Beaufort County, continuing a pattern seen in December 2022 when dozens washed ashore on Hilton Head.

In the event of a sting from a Man-O-War, Hilton Head’s beach patrol advises beachgoers to soak the affected area in hot water and seek medical attention if needed. Any sightings should be reported to lifeguards or local officials for public safety.

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