Mystery Creature Found On North Carolina Beach

Author Melanie Day

July 20th, 2022 11:17 AM

It’s not out of the ordinary for things to wash up on the beach. But a mystery creature that washed up on a North Carolina beach over the weekend has experts stumped. The dead creature washed up on one of North Carolina’s barrier islands.  Officials with the Cape Lookout National Seashore took to Facebook to enlist the public’s help in identifying the creature.

There were two that were discovered both about 6 inches long possibly some sort of sea cucumber or sea slug. The “objects” resemble a sort of worm or caterpillar but have bristles pertruding from them.

The discovery was made by the Cape Lookout National Seashore turtle patrol on an oceanside beach. A log covered in barnacles was also discovered at the scene but they state that they don’t know if the two are related.  No images online seemed to be of the same species. Which lead to the post asking for information.

As with any photo of this sort posted to social media, commenters had many ideas. One commenter named Gerry said they look like a creature he has referred to as “Fire Worms”. Gerry wrote that “When they are alive if you wave your hand near them the white pieces will extend to defend the worm. I think they are also called Bristle Worms as well. I have never touched one but I have been told that the bristles are very painful.”

Several other commenters said bristle worms, which would be my guess. Others agreed with the original post that it might be some form of sea cucumber. If you do happen to come across this mystery creature on a North Carolina beach or any other location avoid touching it.

What do you think it is?

GALLERY: List of Animals Native to North Carolina

As found by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

• American Beaver

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  Castor canadensis, the beaver, played an important role in North Carolina's economy well into the 1800s. Its fur was the most valuable item of trade in the colonies. As a result, the beaver was nearly trapped to extinction in many sections of the United States, including North Carolina.

• Armadillo, Nine-Banded.

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  Only one species of armadillo lives in the southeast, the Nine-banded Armadillo. Native to Central and South America, the Nine-banded Armadillo was first recorded in Texas in 1849, but has since spread north and east, crossing the Mississippi River in the early 1940s, reaching western Tennessee in 1980, and reaching North Carolina in the late 2000's via natural dispersal from adjacent states.

• Black Bear

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  In North Carolina or anywhere else in the eastern United States, the black bear is the only bear species. The successful recovery of the American black bear in North Carolina is one of wildlife management's greatest achievements.
• Bobcat

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  North Carolina has a wide variety of habitats for bobcats, but they are found most commonly in the wooded Coastal Plain and mountains. East North Carolina's bottomlands, young pine stands, swamps, and pocosins are good habitats for bobcats. The mountains are characterized by mature forests with openings or early successional forests nearby. Bobcat dens are common in hollow trees, rock piles, brush piles, root masses of uprooted trees, etc.

• Bats

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  In North Carolina, bats mate either in the spring or fall and usually produce one pup per year. Their young are born alive. During the summer, many species form maternity colonies to raise their young, while others are solitary, roosting and raising young alone.

• Eastern Chipmunk

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  Hawks, owls, foxes, and snakes are among the predators protected by burrows. These small predators rely on eastern ground squirrels for food. During the winter, burrows provide safe quarters since the cold weather induces deep sleep. This "quasi-hibernation" is marked by slow breathing and low body temperature, often lasting for days on end. Winters in North Carolina are more active than those in colder climes.
• Coyote

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  Red wolves look similar to coyotes in North Carolina, but coyotes are smaller, have pointed ears, and long, slender snouts. Usually carried pointed down, the tail is long, bushy, and black-tipped. Dark gray is the most common color, but blonde, red, and black are possible as well. It has a wide range of sizes, but with a maximum height of two feet and a maximum length of four feet.

• White-tailed Deer

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  In North Carolina, no wild animal is more recognizable than the white-tailed deer. Whether a mature buck with magnificent antlers, a graceful doe, or a spotted fawn running with its mother, the white-tailed deer is one of the most popular animals.

• Elk

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  In the past, the Eastern Elk roamed across the eastern United States, including parts of North Carolina. After the arrival of European settlers, however, unregulated hunting and loss of habitat led to rapid population declines through the 1700s. By the year 1800, the Eastern Elk was extirpated from North Carolina and by the mid-1800s, Eastern Elk had almost disappeared throughout their range entirely. The last known wild Eastern Elk was killed in Pennsylvania in 1877.
• Mink

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  Minks are often considered vicious because they are also known as water weasels. Due to its habit of frequently killing prey that is larger than itself, it has earned this reputation. In wetlands, mink live in a variety of semi-aquatic habitats. Historically, the mink’s handsome fur has been highly prized, though the demand for wild fur has dropped in recent years.

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Author Melanie Day

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Animal,Beach,Local