Author Topic: Round sponge like "things" found on Lake Ontario shore? (Read 7454 times)

the jigs up · « **on:** Mar 15, 2011, 09:26 PM »

Hey Guys looking for some info on these round little things we found on the shores of Lake Ontario today.

They look like natural sponges. Perfectly round about the size of a small "jawbreaker" gum ball. These things look, feel and act just like sponges. We found lots of them. They are different colours but mostly earth tones.

Any info on what they are or where they came from would be great. I have never seen anything like it before.

Thanks

the jigs up · « **Reply #1 on:** Mar 17, 2011, 11:35 PM »

Ok so I went to the Sportsman Show on Wednesday. Talked to a guy at the "invasive species" booth. He had never heard of or seen anything like it either(yes I brought one).

He doesn't feel they are naturally occurring and are probably man made and used to absorb things like spills.

Judging by the number of reads with no responses no one else has any better ideas. (fact or fiction).

Got me? Hopefully they are not toxic as my kids were playing with them.

gaspumper · « **Reply #2 on:** Mar 18, 2011, 05:28 AM »

A picture of them would help.

onebadc20 · « **Reply #3 on:** Mar 18, 2011, 05:50 AM »

Quote from: gaspumper on Mar 18, 2011, 05:28 AM

A picture of them would help.

x2

Dispy · « **Reply #4 on:** Mar 18, 2011, 05:57 AM »

Do they look like these?

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/03/17/coakley-looking-into-hooksett-nh-sewage-treatment-disk-release/

the jigs up · « **Reply #5 on:** Mar 18, 2011, 09:56 AM »

Quote from: Dispy on Mar 18, 2011, 05:57 AM

Do they look like these?http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/03/17/coakley-looking-into-hooksett-nh-sewage-treatment-disk-release/

No! perfectly round like a gumball. Looks and feels like soft coral, squishie (is this a word) like a sponge.

I will have to work on this picture thing. Fairly new to computers and not that user friendly. I'll see if I can work something out. One of my kids should be able to set it up for me.

Snakehunter · « **Reply #6 on:** Mar 18, 2011, 11:38 AM »

As a SCUBA diver I've seen freshwater sponges in some lakes in northwestern Ontario. Most have been branch-like but I have seen some in ball shapes, never as spherical as a gumball though. Perhaps they could have been rounded from wave action while in shallow water?
Interesting find you have there.
Glen

fishermccann · « **Reply #7 on:** Mar 22, 2011, 02:06 PM »

They are from cosmetic containers.

the jigs up · « **Reply #8 on:** Mar 22, 2011, 05:23 PM »

Are you sure? There was hundreds of them all along the shore. Are you familiar with them?

I can't get a picture, my wife threw them all out she didn't want the kids playing with them.

fishermccann · « **Reply #9 on:** Mar 24, 2011, 04:15 PM »

Have seen them for years along Lake O. shores, Lots on Rouge beach.

chrishohenwald · « **Reply #10 on:** Feb 21, 2017, 03:09 PM »

My wife and I were wondering the same thing. We went for a walk along the beach in Pickering and there were thousands of them. I brought some of them home. ugh, how can I attach a picture?

icefishdoug · « **Reply #11 on:** Feb 22, 2017, 02:48 PM »

Did anyone see the flash of light and sonic boom over the lake last week....

Sako · « **Reply #12 on:** Apr 21, 2017, 09:15 AM »

Hi all,
Reviving an old thread.
Ive been finding these things on the shore near the Rouge River for years.
They come in various colours but all the same size. No idea what they are of where from

As previously said, they are soft and spongy.

missoulafish · « **Reply #13 on:** Apr 21, 2017, 10:35 AM »

cut it in half and post a pic:)

Eyes R Bitin · « **Reply #14 on:** Apr 21, 2017, 02:52 PM »

Maybe some freighter lost a container of ammo for "Wild Hog Popper Toys" https://www.amazon.com/Hog-Wild-54300-Pig-Popper/dp/B003A0UDRC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492804148&sr=8-1&keywords=pig+popper+toy

Sako · « **Reply #15 on:** Apr 21, 2017, 04:03 PM »

missoulafish · « **Reply #16 on:** Apr 21, 2017, 09:23 PM »

really does look like eroded sponges....

Sako · « **Reply #17 on:** Apr 23, 2017, 09:25 PM »

Nobody else with ideas?

JDK · « **Reply #18 on:** Apr 24, 2017, 03:05 PM »

Algae balls that have rolled in the surf???

scrand · « **Reply #19 on:** Sep 28, 2018, 07:29 AM »

They are called taprogge balls and they are there courtesy of your local nuclear plant. Here's a link from England where I found this information out and if you goggle "taprogge" you will find out more about these "harmless" little blue balls. https://www.channel4.com/news/mystery-blue-balls-blight-north-yorkshire-beaches

rdhammah · « **Reply #20 on:** Sep 28, 2018, 08:27 AM »

if that is what they are, wouldn't they be harmful to fish and waterfowl if ingested?

esox_xtm · « **Reply #21 on:** Sep 28, 2018, 09:53 AM »

Here's a pic from the Taprogge website:

If this is the case I'd say "thousands" shouldn't be and it would be interesting to know what their source was. I'm surprised that authorities aren't concerned on some level. Certainly can't be a positive to be ingested by anything.

A quick Google on Rogue River nuclear power plants reveals this target rich environment: Rogue River Nuclear Power

scrand · « **Reply #22 on:** Sep 28, 2018, 08:21 PM »

We've walk the shores of Lake Huron at Boiler Beach south of Kincardine and within sight of Bruce Nuke and was see a couple of these on the beach every week. I'm be a little concerned with how little kids handle these things. Are there any contaminates on these things? Surprised I hadn't heard anything about them before seeing them this summer?

News:

Author Topic: Round sponge like "things" found on Lake Ontario shore? (Read 7454 times)