Sea hares washing up on Hutchinson Island beaches pose risk to dogs
Marine biologists are warning pet owners about sea hares, a type of sea slug appearing on Hutchinson Island beaches, which can harm dogs but are harmless to humans.
, Fla. —
Marine biologists are warning pet owners about sea hares, a type of sea slug washing up on Hutchinson Island beaches, which can be poisonous to dogs but pose no threat to humans.
“Sea hares are a type of marine gastropod that are like a snail without a shell,” said Zack Jud, a marine biologist with the Florida Oceanographic Society.
Jud explained that sea hares typically appear during summer months when warmer water temperatures lead to increased algae growth. “This is a really neat phenomenon. We see this not every summer but most summers, and out of the clear blue, usually in July, thousands of these sea hares show up on local beaches. Then a week later, they’re completely gone. We don’t know what causes them to appear it oftentimes relates to cooler water temperatures as part of an upwelling event,” He said.
Sea hares produce a purple ink as a defense mechanism against predators. While the ink is not toxic to humans, Jud said it can cause seizures in dogs and could even be deadly. “As a pet owner, I wouldn’t want my pet scavenging anything off of the beach, but the purple ink that sea hares produce is more of a deterrent. It’s a good idea to keep pets off the beach until the sea hares are gone.” said Jud.
Jud also noted that the skin of sea hares poses a danger to pets. However, he said it is safe for humans to handle the creatures if they want to return them to the water. “We obviously wouldn’t want to handle wildlife necessarily, but in this case, if you’re trying to do a helping hand, it’s okay to pick up a sea hare and put it back into the water. They’re not at all toxic to humans,” he said.
Experts advise pet owners to seek immediate veterinary care if they suspect their dog has touched or eaten a sea hare.
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