Aerial view of New Smyrna Beach, Florida – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Sky Cinema
Strange balls are washing up on the coast of South Florida, so visitors to the Sunshine State might be in for a surprise.
According to the Associated Press, tar balls are appearing throughout the Atlantic Ocean coast from Port Everglades to Palm Beach.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says the balls are made of black oil particles.
“The majority of tar balls are coin-sized, while some could be as big as pancakes. According to NOAA, tar balls can travel hundreds of miles and are extremely persistent in the maritime environment.
The sticky material can adhere to the bottom of the foot, so beachgoers are advised to monitor where they step.
According to Coast Guard Petty Officer Nicholas Strasburg, who spoke to the Associated Press, Coast Guard personnel searched both by air and by water but were unable to identify a specific source.
After receiving a report from a beachgoer, the Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue reported seeing the tar balls on Saturday. After that, some beaches were shut down for the day.
“The caller saw the stuff on their feet when they were strolling on the sand. The Facebook post stated, “Once our Ocean Rescue lifeguards arrived on duty, they also noticed the oily substance.”
“Beachgoers are welcome to enjoy the beautiful day, but we are asking them to remain out of the water,” the message said.
Reactions from locals were posted in the post’s comments section.
“Yup, normal for the beach when I was growing up [in the] 50s, 60s and 70s,” a woman wrote.
“Yup,” said another, “I remember getting tar on everything.”
“Deodorized mineral spirits will take off tar like water takes off mud,” a man stated.
“Same thing 35+ years ago,” a woman said.
The U.S. Coast Guard was contacted by Fox News Digital for comment.
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Melissa’s career in writing started more than 20 years ago. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys.
