Portuguese Man O' War Found at Jones Beach

First the shark and now this.

Three Portuguese Man O’ War were spotted by a visitor at Jones Beach on Wednesday, National Parks Service officials confirmed.

The sighting was reported one day after children were stung by the venomous hydrozoa on Fire Island. A 7-year-old was hospitalized in Bay Shore after being stung in the hand in Kismet while a 4-year-old was stung at Davis Park, Suffolk Police said.

While they are rarely fatal to humans, stings from Portuguese Man O’ War can produce allergic reactions and are highly painful. Stings can happen even after the animal has died, officials said.

To protect swimmers, National Parks Service is posting notices and warning flags at visitor centers and lifeguarded beaches, officials said.

“Beach goers should be vigilant,” said Fire Island National Seashore Chief Law Enforcement Ranger John Stewart in a statement. “If visitors observe a Portuguese Man O’ War on Fire Island, they should alert lifeguards, park rangers, or law enforcement officers.”

Beach goers should avoid contacting the creatures and immediately leave the water if one is spotted. If stung, the victim should rinse the affected area with salt water and vinegar or seek medical attention for a reaction.

Portuguese Man O’ War are jellyfish-like organisms with long stinging tentacles that are used to paralyze other small creatures. They are common in the open ocean in more tropical waters and are rare on Long Island.

Jones Beach joins several other East Coast locations reporting sightings of Portuguese Man O’ War, which may be floating closer to our area because of warmer waters and winds, scientists say. Dozens washed up on the Jersey Shore last month in addition to the incidents on Fire Island.

Image: Portuguese Man O’ War that washed ashore on Jones Beach Wednesday. Courtesy National Parks Service