In the same way there have been rising temperatures due to a significant change in the Earth's climate, so have water creatures been emerging because of these warmer temperatures.
With warmer waters, a number of creatures have been found washed up on land.
Just recently, small armies of giant purple sea slugs turned up on the shores of Oakland, Alameda and Richmond beaches in Northern California. Dozens of blobs that were washed up scared local residents. One who stumbled upon a slug even called 911, thinking it was a human heart.
"They were scattered all over the beach over there. Some were alive, some were dead, some were in the seaweed. They were kind of cool looking. But then it was kind of weird because I'm like, what's going on with our water?" Rachyl Benitez, an Alameda resident, recounted.
The East Bay Regional Park District says it is very unusual to see the purple sea slugs at this time since they normally come out of the waters during the summer.
In the past 15 years, this is the second time a number of sea slugs have been washed ashore.
The slugs are neither endangered nor dangerous. Some people are grossed out, while some are not. Morgan Dill of the park district, however, said residents should not take the slugs home.
Along with the purple sea slugs, several other sea creatures have been unusually turning up. These include small tuna crabs, blue jellyfish-looking creatures and a Minke whale. The causes of death of these creatures have yet to be determined, but the rising temperatures in our waters are a huge factor to consider.
In Orange County, little tuna crabs invaded the shores of Dana Point, San Clemente, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach on Sunday.
Along the West Coast, droves of Velella velella were also washed ashore. These blue jellyfish-like creatures are also called "by-the-wind sailors" as they can be taken to just about anywhere by the wind.
Also recently, a Minke whale came about dead along the shores of Coney Island in New York.
