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Rare Gelatinous Invasion: Oregon Beach Overrun by Peculiar Sea Cucumbers
22 Oct
Summary
- Thousands of pink sea cucumbers washed ashore on Seaside Beach, Oregon
- Unusual occurrence due to heavy surf and low tides
- Sea cucumbers typically reside buried in sand, now strewn across 2-mile stretch
On October 20th, 2025, thousands of peculiar, gelatinous pink sea creatures were discovered washed ashore along a significant stretch of Oregon's Seaside Beach. This rare occurrence has been attributed to the powerful combination of heavy surf and unusually low tides in the region.
The creatures in question are 'skin breathing' sea cucumbers, known for their partially translucent appearance. Typically, these sea cucumbers reside burrowed deep within the sand along the low tideline and further out at sea. However, on Tuesday, they were found strewn across more than 3.2 kilometres (2 miles) of the popular coastal area.
Tiffany Boothe, the assistant manager of the Seaside Aquarium, confirmed the widespread wash-up, stating that the sea cucumbers were "literally littering the tideline." While they are only about a half-inch (1.3 centimeters) long, these sea creatures can grow up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) in size.
The phenomenon of such a large-scale wash-up can occur whenever surf and tide conditions coincide, which can happen a few times a year or once in a few years. Typically, a few scattered sea cucumbers may be found on the shore, but this latest episode saw large groupings across the beach.
