PORTLAND, Ore. — Thousands of creatures known as “skin-breathing sea cucumbers” have washed ashore on Seaside Beach along the Oregon Coast.

The small, gelatinous, blob-like animals are often uprooted by heavy surf and low tides, leaving them scattered across beaches, according to Seaside Aquarium.

"While this is not an unusual occurrence this time of year, it is remarkable how many have been left stranded," Seaside Aquarium said in a statement. "Lacking tube feet, these strange animals look more like a worm than a sea cucumber."

The sea cucumbers typically live just beyond the surf zone, burrowed in sand for protection. But when rough ocean conditions and low tides align, they can be dislodged and left stranded along the shoreline.

Although the creatures are still alive when they wash

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