Tar balls reported in Gulf Shores

GULF SHORES, Alabama (WALA) - It's something no one in Gulf Shores wanted to see. BP contractors say they received reports from beach homeowners about tarballs scattered on the beach.

So far, most have been found at the west end of the beach and near Fort Morgan.

Researchers say what washed ashore is similar to what was found on Dauphin Island over the weekend.

"Both of them are pretty much the same. They are pretty dry. Not finding any oil in them, no smell to them," said BP Contractor Ray Perry.

At this point, researchers don't know where it came from.

It could be from the oil rig explosion or it could be from another unknown source.

"We'll comb the beach, see what we find, get it all picked up. And then once we get the analysis, we will know what we have to do next," Perry added.

But contractors say there is no immediate threat to people and the beach is safe to go on.

"We have no danger out here with what's going on," said Perry. "But we are picking it up just to be on the safe side."