Authorities urge caution as bluebottles wash up on Bellarine, Surf Coast beaches
Beach lovers face an unexpected enemy as bluebottles swarm coastal hotspots, turning routine dog walks into hazardous obstacle courses for unsuspecting pet owners.
Dog owners and surfers are being warned to be vigilant on the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast as bluebottles invade local beaches.
Bluebottles – also known as Portuguese man-o-war or Pacific man-o-war – are living air-filled sacs with bodies that grow up to 8cm in length. They usually have a long blue tentacle that can reach more than 3m and cause painful stings.
They are found Australia-wide but tend to prefer warmer water. In recent weeks they have been sighted in Torquay, Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads and at 13th Beach – in the water and on the shoreline.
Ocean Grove locals Sam Baker and Keely Babb said walking their young nova scotia duck tolling retriever Larry had been frustrating the past few weeks because of the creatures.
“He’s only a young pup, just one year old, and he’s interested in putting his nose on everything he shouldn’t, so we had to keep him on leash,” Mr Baker said.
“A couple of weeks ago they were plastered everywhere – in every little bit of seaweed.
“They usually hang around for a couple of weeks – thank god they aren’t here all the time.”
Claire Lawrence from Torquay North Vet said she has seen a couple of dogs a week – often labradors – for bluebottle ingestion or stings.
“There are heaps down our way at the moment,” Dr Lawrence said.
“Dogs get stung on their limbs or eat them, while they aren’t toxic to dogs, the sting can cause life-threatening problems.”
Dogs can suffer extreme pain, swelling and inflammation, and if they eat bluebottles, they exhibit signs like drooling and vomiting
“The worst case is anaphylactic reaction, which can cause death but that is not common,” Dr Lawrence said.
The recommendation is to bring your pet to a vet and seek immediate treatment
“We will give them a wash off with warm water, maybe an antihistamine or anti-inflammatory. In some cases we need to induce vomiting – it’s not pretty but it’s better out than in.”
She warned this was not something that should be attempted at home.
“They are just everywhere, so the safest thing to do is keep your dog on a leash.”
And it’s not just dogs who fall victim to nasty stings.
Bluebottle stings are common according to Surf Life Saving Australia with one in six Australians report having been stung.
Barwon Coast said stings can be extremely painful, warning bluebottles are able to sting even after death.
“Bluebottles have been seen on the coast over the last couple of weeks, with some spotted at Ocean Grove this morning,” Barwon Coast CEO Gareth Smith said.
“We urge our community to be careful and keep an eye out when at the beach. If you see one, it may be best to find another spot to play, swim or surf until they have gone.”
Originally published as Authorities urge caution as bluebottles wash up on Bellarine, Surf Coast beaches
