Texas Officials Warn of Dangerous Stingrays Along Gulf Coast

Have you ever thought about how weird stingrays are? No, seriously, you've never really considered how strange and alien-like these things are? They fly underwater, have a poisonous stinger on their tail, and look like they came straight out of a Ridley Scott film.

It's no wonder that Texas officials have warned all beachgoers of the threat stingrays pose along Texas shores.

The Deadly Texas Stingray

Thanks to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), we know the basic facts about stingrays and just how potent their stings can be to humans.

These fish are bottom-dwellers that live in salt water. They are made up of cartilage instead of bones and have a sharp stinger filled with poison at the base of their long tail.

Stingrays primarily eat worms, small fish, and crustaceans, and most stings to humans occur when walking in shallow water and a stingray is accidentally stepped on. The sting is immediately met with intense pain around the area, and bleeding is common after a stingray's sting.

How to Avoid Dangerous Stingrays in Texas

Sometimes, you're just unlucky when walking in shallow water. But what you can do to avoid further risks is to shuffle your feet when wading in the water. This way you make your presence known before possibly disturbing a hidden stingray in the sand.

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Remember that these fish are not naturally aggressive and will never pursue you for an attack. They only retaliate when threatened.

What To Do If You've Been Stung by a Stingray

A very helpful tip to keep in mind is that stingray poison is sensitive to heat. So, if you find yourself on the wrong end of a stingray stinger, immediately submerge the sting site in hot water, if possible.

Although the pain should subside after soaking in hot water, you should still seek medical attention since stingray barbs often break off in the leg or foot and must be removed ASAP.