A large and potentially dangerous jellyfish has been found washed up on a busy vacation beach, leading officials to issue safety warnings. If you’ve ever been stung by a jellyfish, you know how painful it can be. I still remember the sting I got as a child from a small jellyfish, but the lion’s mane jellyfish is far more intimidating. Its tentacles can grow up to 120 feet long—almost as long as the Statue of Liberty’s statue itself.
While they don’t weigh as much as the biggest whales, their length makes them one of the ocean’s longest animals. Recently, a nearly five-foot-wide lion’s mane jellyfish was spotted on Willard Beach in South Portland, Maine. The city advised people not to touch the jellyfish because its sting is very painful. Instead, they suggested observing it from a distance and notifying lifeguards if the jellyfish is stranded so it can be safely returned to the ocean.
Experts say the sting can cause serious pain and swelling, and anyone affected should see a doctor. Sightings of lion’s mane jellyfish have increased recently. Nicholas Record, a scientist who has been tracking these jellyfish since 2014, said that while most jellyfish seen are small, this year has brought reports of much larger ones, some up to five feet wide. These jellyfish are native to cold waters like the Gulf of Maine, but their size and number this year are unusual.
