SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. – A video of hundreds of tiny sand fleas goes viral on the Area Coast.
‘It was very surprising’
What we all know:
A longtime beachgoer captured the sight in Satellite tv for pc Seashore. Sand fleas are tremendous frequent by the waterline on the coast of Florida, but it surely’s extraordinarily uncommon to see that many suddenly above the sand.
Specialists assume they may have been mating or consuming one thing within the space all of them favored. Sand fleas aren’t bugs however truly crabs. They’re identified for being good bait and completely innocent. However, in different nations, docs say they’ll depart parasites in folks’s pores and skin.
What they’re saying:
A large swarm of sand fleas noticed this week alongside Florida’s Area Coast has beachgoers surprised and specialists guessing, as video of the bizarre sight spreads throughout social media.
“It was very surprising. That’s why I took the video. I didn’t assume it was going to explode like that,” stated Denise Derrick Wright, who took the video she posted on social media.
Dr. Todd Osborne, a biogeochemist on the College of Florida, stated he’s by no means seen so many gathered in a single place.
“There could also be quite a lot of that buried within the sand there, or possibly it’s a mating factor’s occurring, and I feel that’s extra probably,” stated Dr. Osborne.
Whereas the sight is likely to be unsettling, Florida’s sand fleas are innocent. Nonetheless, specialists notice that comparable species in different components of the world can carry parasites.
“There are some in different nations that form of lay eggs below the pores and skin and depart parasites and issues like that, however that’s not one thing it’s important to fear about on Florida’s seashores,” stated Dr. Bobby Ford, who’s the ER Medical Director at Orlando Well being.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:
The Supply: FOX 35 reporter Esther Bower spoke with a number of beachgoers, together with Denise, who took the video on Might 29, 2025. She additionally linked through zoom with a medical physician on the potential of folks getting bitten by the fleas and a scientist on zoom about why they may have been swarming like they had been. She spoke with different fishermen on the cellphone about how typically they see sand fleas and the way they’re good for bait.
