‘Balloon-like’ creatures — with venom-filled barbs — are washing up on Georgia beach

Recent sightings of venomous creatures on the Georgia coast prompted a warning to beachgoers that the animals can sting, dead or alive.

“These creatures may look fascinating, but they can be extremely dangerous,” City of Tybee Island officials said.

Portuguese men o’ war have been appearing on the barrier island near Savannah, city officials said in a June 19 advisory.

The “balloon-like” species may look like a jellyfish, but they belong to a separate species called siphonophores, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Each man o’ war is composed of a colony of smaller, identical creatures that work together to help the animal function, experts say.

They get their name from the bubble that floats above the surface of the water “resembling an 18th-century Portuguese warship under full sail,” experts say.

The animals carry venom-filled barbed tubes in their tentacles, which average 30 feet in length but can grow up to 100 feet, according to NOAA. While their tentacles are designed to deliver a paralyzing and lethal blow to fish and crustaceans, they are rarely deadly to humans.

They can cause a painful sting or even allergic reaction, so beachgoers should take precautions.

To stay safe on beaches with men o’ war, avoid touching them or anything that looks like a jellyfish, keep yourself and pets away from the water’s edge where they may wash up and educate kids so they know not to play with the stinging creatures, officials say.

If you get stung, don’t use urine to treat it. Remove any remaining tentacles and apply diluted vinegar if possible, health experts recommend.