Warning Issued After Giant Venomous Jellyfish Found On Popular Beach

Byhangeditor

Jul 4, 2025 #Hằng-nick 7

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People spending time at a well-known beach destination—whether they’re locals or just visiting—are being advised to stay alert after a massive jellyfish was recently spotted along the shore.

Getting stung by a jellyfish is something most people hope to avoid. The pain can be intense, even when it’s caused by a smaller jellyfish. But what’s raising concern now is the presence of a far larger and more dangerous species that could pose an even greater risk if touched.

Unlike smaller jellyfish, these larger ones—especially the lion’s mane jellyfish—can have long, flowing tentacles that stretch much farther and are capable of delivering a stronger sting. Beachgoers are being told to stay back if they come across one, whether it’s floating in shallow waters or resting on the sand.

Warnings have become more urgent due to the size and reach of the lion’s mane jellyfish. These sea creatures can grow up to a staggering 120 feet long. To give that some perspective, that’s nearly as tall as the Statue of Liberty itself—just the statue, not including its base.

Even though these jellyfish don’t have the weight of something like a blue whale, their length makes them just as impressive. It’s their incredibly long tentacles that account for most of their size, stretching far behind them as they drift through the ocean.

That’s why experts are reminding people that even if one appears harmless or stranded, it can still sting. The tentacles might still be active and dangerous, even when the jellyfish seems lifeless.

Lion’s mane jellyfish can stretch up to 120ft in length, and pack an extremely painful stingGetty Stock Image

Officials in South Portland, Maine, have now issued a public alert to make people aware that one of these massive jellyfish has been found along their coastline.

Sharing the update on Facebook, the city wrote: “Spotted this weekend at Willard Beach: A nearly 5-foot wide lion’s mane jellyfish!”

“If you see one, here’s what to do: Don’t touch it! They sting; Observe it. They’re so interesting to watch, and pretty too; If you see one washed up at Willard Beach, notify a lifeguard and they will help it back into the water with a shovel.”

A huge 5ft wide lion’s mane jellyfish has been spotted in MaineFacebook/City of South Portland

The Wildlife Trust has also reminded beachgoers that these jellyfish can deliver a painful sting. In serious cases, where there is swelling or large raised marks on the skin, it’s best to seek medical help right away.

Reports of lion’s mane jellyfish have become more common in recent years. This increase started to draw more attention after Nicholas Record, a senior research scientist at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, began studying jellyfish activity in the area back in 2014.

In a 2019 interview with weather.com, Record mentioned that nearly all the jellyfish sightings reported in the region at that time were of the lion’s mane species.

“In a typical year, the biggest ones that people would report are typically the size of a dinner plate, and this year, I’ve gotten several reports of some that are two feet and a couple that are five feet across,” Record said.

“They’re generally a sub-Arctic species and they’re not new to the Gulf of Maine by any means. But the size and just the fact that they’re all we’re seeing this year is what makes it unique.”