Beware of These Critters Next Time You Visit the Texas Coast
Many Texans love visiting the Gulf of Mexico when the weather warms up. There are some great beaches and plenty of fun things to do along the coast. However, there are also some things that you need to be careful of when visiting the coast, and one of those things is bristle worms.
Texas Ranger Eric from the Mustang Island State Park recently posted a video to his TikTok warning possible visitors about these creepy critters. Bristleworms are sea creatures that have a gnarly sting that's even worse than any of the jellyfish you might encounter in the area.
While these worms aren’t necessarily aggressive, they're known to bite when handled. The bristles covering their body can penetrate skin and give a nasty sting.
If you're stung by one of these critters, you should apply isopropyl alcohol or vinegar to the sting, remove any bristles that might be stuck in your skin, and visit your doctor if the sting becomes severely inflamed or starts burning. Bristleworms are often found under rocks or on debris that washes up on the beach, so be careful when picking up rocks or handling anything you find on the beach.
The Texas ranger said that the bristleworm's sting is something that scares him even though he’s fine with a jellyfish sting. So, if you're planning to visit the Texas coast this summer, keep an eye out for any bristleworms and make sure you don’t get stung.