After twenty-five days since some deaths, a horde of giant lion’s mane jellyfish, with tentacles stretching 100 feet (about 30 meters) and delivering painful stings, has descended upon a charming beach in New England. It’s almost like a scene from a horror film, honestly.
In Massachusetts, several cities and government agencies are on high alert due to the influx of these alarming creatures.
Beverly, a coastal town, issued a public safety alert last week, advising residents to “Keep children and pets away from stranded jellyfish… Do not touch jellyfish or dislodged tentacles, even if they seem lifeless.”
Experts have noted that this jellyfish swarm is the largest observed since 2020. One researcher mentioned to a local news outlet that a lion’s mane jellyfish holds the record as the largest species of its kind, with one tentacle once measured at 120 feet near Massachusetts.
The phenomenon isn’t just visually striking; it’s also dangerous. These jellyfish have a reputation for being hazardous long after they die, with their tentacles able to sting for up to 25 days.
Social media is buzzing with accounts of jellyfish swarms stretching from the Nahant Peninsula all the way to Salem. For instance, Great Marsh Kayak Tours shared on Facebook their dismay over thousands of these jellyfish being washed into marshes by rising tides on Cape Cod.
Warnings continue to surface. The Boston Center for Youth and Families cautioned that “Jellyfish have arrived on the beach at BCYF Curley Community Center in South Boston and are stinging some swimmers. Swim at your own risk.”
Pete Ghosn, from the New England Aquarium, commented on the situation, noting various factors such as water temperature, currents, and wind that could be influencing this occurrence.
As for treating jellyfish stings, there’s a common misconception. Experts do not recommend using urine; they advise using tweezers to remove tentacle pieces, soaking the affected area in hot water, and applying hydrocortisone ointment a couple of times daily.
