Don’t worry, poisonous El Niño snakes have not invaded Humboldt shores.

Local beachgoer Raquel Relph drew attention on the local Facebook group Humboldt County, California in pictures,old and new, after she posted a picture of a strange serpent like creature she happened across at College Cove today.

“I saw a few of these on the beach in College Cove,” Relph wrote on Facebook. “Does anyone have any idea what they are? Some of them burrowed into the sand after being messed with.”

LoCO decided to solve this mystery, and got in touch with HSU Marine Lab Equipment Technician Grant Eberle.

“They’re clam worms or sand worms,” Eberle said. “You find ‘em out on the beach during low tide. They’re pretty common.”

Eberle said the worms are fairly harmless. Several local fishermen also chimed in on Facebook, saying they sometimes use the worms as bait while perch fishing in the surf. However, beachgoers should be wary of picking one up.

“They have eversible pharynx,” Eberle said. “They can basically turn their throat inside out, and there’s a pair of jaws in there that can give you a nip.”

You’ve been warned Humboldt. Don’t come crying to LoCO next time you’re nipped by a toothy-throated worm.

Ahhhh!