The beach is one of the first place many people think of when they think about relaxing. Warm weather, soothing waves, spending time outdoors in the sunshine with loved ones, it all sounds wonderful!
But even the beach has its hidden horrors , as discovered by this coastal group of researchers who find some of the creepiest sea debris known to man.
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Researchers have noticed an eerie trend going on at Texas beaches.
As teams regularly survey the sandy coastlines for creatures such as sea turtles and endangered birds, they tend to find a lot of random debris as well, things left by other beachgoers or garbage that’s found its way there.
Recently, though, there’s been an uptick in a very peculiar type of object washing ashore.
These researchers can’t seem to stop finding creepy dolls.
Not only has this been happening for years now, but dolls continue to be among the most popular items they find while surveying.
The Mission-Aransas Reserve , a non-profit organization that ensures proper, environmentally sound coastal management, often uploads photos of the dolls they find.
And boy, are they creepy.
These dolls have clearly felt the ravages of the sea, with many coated in algae, sand, and sometimes even barnacles. They’re also often missing limbs, eyes, or their hair. These dolls are clearly very far from the ones we’d want kids playing with.
These researchers are well used to them by now.
As Jace Tunnell, director of the Mission-Aransas Reserve at the University of Texas Marine Institute, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “Every day is something new. Just when you’ve found everything that could possibly wash up on shore, something else comes up.”
Tunnell said he’s collected 30 dolls since he started counting.
Even more surprising? People want to buy them!
Tunnell revealed that they get a shocking amount of people asking to purchase the dolls. He said he doesn’t personally keep any for fear of them being haunted, but he does sell them at a yearly fundraising auction.
It’s nice to see these nightmares going towards something positive!
h/t: Chron
