5-foot-wide sea creature is a ‘new fear unlocked’ in Maine. ‘Don’t touch it!’

A giant sea creature that washed up on the Maine shore has fascinated beachgoers, but city officials have a strict warning for if you encounter one.

“Don’t touch it! They sting,” the City of South Portland said June 23 of the lion’s mane jellyfish, which was spotted at Willard Beach.

Lion’s mane jellyfish often grow to 3 feet wide, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but the one pictured is even larger at nearly 5 feet, officials said. The species is the largest of the 200 species of jellyfish in the world.

The reddish-orange translucent jellyfish found at Willard Beach has what appears to be flowy hair. Its lion-like “mane,” however, is actually its massive tentacles, according to Oceana.

Tentacles of the species can reach 120 feet long, rivaling the size of the largest animal in the world, the blue whale, Oceana said.

The species features hundreds of those tentacles, according to Wildlife Trusts, which says the jellies use them “to catch their favorite prey.”

But remember to look with your eyes, not your hands.

“Observe it. They’re so interesting to watch, and pretty too,” city officials said.

While officials warned not to touch the large creature, others, it turns out, had no plans to engage in such activity.

“New fear unlocked,” one Facebook commenter said.

“Five FEET wide???!!! Bruhhh. Annnd I’m done with the ocean forever,” one person commented.

“The design in the middle is very pretty, but I thought it was a giant blood clot,” another Facebook user said.

This story was originally published June 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM with the headline "5-foot-wide sea creature is a ‘new fear unlocked’ in Maine. ‘Don’t touch it!’."