Mysterious colored blocks spotted on Galveston Beach

If you’re planning a trip to the Texas coast this weekend, keep an eye out for some mysterious orange blocks along the coast.

What? Yes, that’s the same thing I thought. KVUE reports that the unusual objects are small orange rectangular blocks attached to a larger rectangular block spotted in the sand or on the shoreline near the ocean in Galveston.

The blocks are called “wooden figures” and anyone who finds one of these blocks is asked to call a phone number attached to them. According to the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research, the orange blocks mimic sea turtles and help researchers better understand the role ocean currents and weather patterns play in sea turtle strandings.

At least 80 of the strange-looking effigies have been released on the Louisiana coast and more than half will drift toward the Texas coast this weekend. If you find one, please call the number on the attached pad so researchers can collect GPS satellite tracking data associated with the effigy.

Sea turtles were released back into the sea two months ago after being rescued from the cold last winter.