Monday, June 1, 2009

Sanibel Slippery Noodle Mystery

UPDATE.....



I think the Sanibel Slippery Noodle Mystery has been solved by Rick Bartleson, a research scientist at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Marine Laboratory. There is a News Press article to explain.

I found another article that explains in a little more detail, the explanation by Rick Barleson. Evidently, in the winter, a lot of the manatee grass dies and floats to the surface. It then drifts around, getting bleached by the sun. Later, it washes up on the beaches.



10 comments:

Brandy and Andy said...

I am glad they found out what it was. I have been curious after looking at all your pictures. Do they know how long it is going to be around?

Tootie said...

Brandy I doubt there is any way to determine how long it will be around. Yesterday there didn't seem to be any coming in and what was on the beach was about dried up. Hopefully it will be gone now.

Unknown said...

And .....where does it come?,and why is it here/there?The article doesn't say.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

So--it's bleached out Manatee grass... Hmmm--never heard of such a thing. Glad they found out what it was!!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy

gpc said...

I wish I could remember where I saw that wormy stuff before if it wasn't on sanibel -- up on the west coast, maybe? Anyway, I knew you'd find the answer, Tootie!

Snowbird said...

Yuck! It looks worse than Red Algae. I wondered if it was a bleached out version of that.

Gayle said...

Expanation or not...it still looks gross. I hope it is gone soon.

Little Black Scrap Cat said...

Nice to know what it is. Hopefully no more will come in. Looks like there's a LOT of it on the beach right now.

Melli said...

LOL! You do get some strange stuff going on down there! But... it keeps life interesting - and educational! We've all learned about bleached out manatee grass now! And not to worry about it if we ever see it again!

Thomas Pryor said...

eerie and pretty, nice combo, tootie, for some reason it remended me of the film "The Uninivted" gail russell & ray milland... great ghost story...BOO!