Maine
Don’t touch! Video shows huge jellyfish wash ashore on Maine beach
Video captured a stunning creature that washed ashore near Portland, Maine. But beachgoers should avoid touching it at all costs.
Kevyn Fowler, a retired photojournalist for local station WMTW, captured video of a lion’s main jellyfish washed ashore in Higgins Beach in Scarborough, Maine, near Portland, which is around 108 miles north of Boston on the coast of Maine.
The jellyfish, which has a tear down the middle of its cap, the top part of its body, was caught in a tide pool, according to Fowler.
While the jellyfish is beautiful, beachgoers should steer clear. They are not deadly, but the jellyfish’s sting “can be very painful to humans,” according to Oceania.
Watch huge jellyfish make appearance on Maine beach
Look but don’t touch! This dangerous jellyfish has a painful sting.
A Maine beachgoer recorded this video of a lion’s mane jellyfish, one of the largest known jellyfish species.
Jellyfish warnings issued
Several coastal communities in Maine issued a jellyfish warning as there has been an increase in sightings of lion’s mane and moon jellyfish, according to local station Fox 23 Maine.
Beachgoers in Ogunquit, Maine, might notice purple flags flying on the beach, according to the Ogunquit Fire Department. This indicates “the presence of marine life hazards.”
“While most encounters are harmless, we have seen a few instances of jellyfish stings locally,” the fire department stated in a post on Facebook. “So, we want to keep beachgoers informed and aware.”
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com