Giant jellyfish with 100-foot tentacles return to Gulf of Maine waters; can still sting after death

News Reporter

Jellyfish have returned to the Gulf of Maine, and some can pack a nasty sting.

The large lion’s mane jellyfish has been seen in the waters of New Hampshire and can wash up on the shore.

“They’re very wonderful and beautiful to watch,” said Sam Rutka, lead aquarist at the Seacoast Science Center. “They’re kind of bizarre and alien-like.”

There are many species of jellyfish that call the Gulf of Maine home, including the lion’s mane and the moon jelly.

“They’re a little bit smaller,” Rutka said. “They have that classic bell shape with little circles on the inside.”

The lion’s mane is one of the largest kinds of jellyfish, with tentacles that can grow more than 100 feet.

“They are covered in tiny little stinging cells called nematocysts that act like little harpoons, and that’s the stinging sensation you can get from the jellyfish,” Rutka said.

They tend to stay in deeper, colder water, but winds and the current can sometimes bring them close to shore.

“They’re not after you,” Rutka said. “They don’t want to interact with you, and if they do, it’s simply an accident.”

Officials said the jellyfish are something that people going into the water should be aware of.

“So, they are here, but it’s not a huge issue,” said Pat Murphy, chief of New Hampshire State Beach Patrol. “It’s just one of the things we have to deal with.”

Spotting jellyfish at the beach is nothing new. In 2010, there was a mass stinging event at Wallis Sands, a beach in Rye, New Hampshire, where more than 100 people were stung.

Anyone stung by a jellyfish might develop a small rash and itching sensation, similar to coming in contact with fiberglass insulation. Experts advise washing the area with salt water and applying a heat pack or white vinegar.

Despite what some TV shows might say, don’t use urine to treat a jellyfish sting.

If you see them floating in the ocean, try to avoid coming into contact with them. Murphy said there’s no need to alert the lifeguards.

“They live in the ocean,” he said. “That’s where they live. That’s where they belong.”

If they wash ashore, you should let a lifeguard know. Don’t touch it, because even when dead, a jellyfish can sting.

The creatures can be found floating in the ocean through the end of the fall.

“Go to the beach, have a great time, enjoy these wonderful ecosystems for yourself,” Rutka said.