© Laurie Blandford/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERSHundreds of sea hares were found on Waveland Beach in St. Lucie County.
Those creatures spotted along beaches in Martin and St. Lucie counties the past several days are, according to experts, black sea hares — and they pose no threat at all to beach goers.
"Think of them as a snail without any shell," said Zack Jud, Ph.D., director of education at the Florida Oceanographic Society. "They are absolutely harmless."
Jud said the sea hares are a part of the mollusk family and grow up to 15 inches long. Cold water upwelling is likely pushing them closer to shore.
"The water is getting so cold that they're not swimming very well," Jud said.
Beach goers are allowed to return the sea hares to the water if they show signs of life, but Jud said it may already be too late.
"Usually by the time they're on the sand they're already dying so its OK to leave them there and let nature take its course," Jud said.
The creatures normally swim alone unless it's during mating season, officials said.
"It's related to their spawning when they start to proliferate," said Mark D. Perry, executive director of the Florida Oceanographic Society.
The black sea hares have winglike mantle flaps that help them swim. However, there's one specific feature that led them to get their name.
"They have little projections on top of their heads that make them look like underwater rabbits," Jud said.
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