Harvey Cedars Beach Patrol Find Portuguese Man O' War On Sand

An unwelcome visitor recently paid a visit to a Harvey Cedars beach.

A member of the Harvey Cedars Beach Patrol confirmed that a Portuguese Man O' War was found on the beach on Friday.

So keep a eye out if you are heading to any beaches in Ocean County. If you find one, don't touch it and notify your local beach patrol. You don't want to get stung. They can hurt you even if they're dead.

Portuguese Man O’ Wars are covered with venom-filled nematocysts that can paralyze fish and other small creatures, according to Nationalgeographic.com

“For humans, a man-of-war sting is excruciatingly painful, but rarely deadly,” according to the website. “But beware—even dead man-of-wars washed up on shore can deliver a sting.”

The creatures didn't show up in 2016 until the end of the summer.

"Tentacles can actually reach 165 feet, but are more likely around 30 feet and easily get torn off in shore break before reaching the beach. These super long tentacles give them a wider area trap prey," according to the Harvey Cedars Beach Patrol Facebook page from last summer.

If you do get stung, wash the affected area with salt water, then remove any lingering tentacles with gloves. Seek medical attention if needed.

People exposed to man-of-wars can always call the New Jersey poison center at 800-222-1222 for more information.

Image: Harvey Cedars Beach Patrol