North Carolina Jellyfish
We’ve all seen them in the movies: those cute, floating blobs of color and light that make you just want to poke them? They look bouncy and fun and totally worth playing with, right?
Wrong.
While jellyfish are really beautiful, it’s better to go visit them at the “Delicate Drifters” exhibit at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island than it is to play with them on the beach. Most of the jellyfish that call the waters of the Outer Banks home are generally harmless but a sting from one of their tentacles can still cause you some pain and discomfort. They can even still sting you even when they are out of the water. But don’t let a jellyfish sting deter you from enjoying the wonders of the beaches of the Outer Banks! Even if you do get stung, it’s not going to ruin your vacation, but it’s probably better to leave them alone when you do see them.
When is Jellyfish Season?
Jellyfish can be seen year-round in the warm waters off the coast of North Carolina, but the spring is normally the time that jellyfish will begin migrating in large groups called blooms. Afterward moving around together in groups of upwards of a 100,000 jellyfish, they reproduce during the summer, which is when you'll see them showing up closer to shore. Jellyfish also tend to wash up on the beach after large storms or periods when strong winds are pushing towards the shore. With more people on the beach during the summer months, it makes sense that this will be the period when more sightings are reported and stings received. That being said, this shouldn't stop you from enjoying the beauty of the ocean during the summer months! Just avoid swimming near large blooms, or groups of jellyfish, and be sure to avoid any jellies that have washed up on the beach, even if they appear harmless.
Types of Jellyfish on the Outer Banks & North Carolina Coast
The Outer Banks is home to many different types of marine wildlife and many different types of jellyfish, but jellyfish are found all over the world, in both the deep ocean and in shallow waters close to the surface. They are believed to have existed for millions of years and predate even the dinosaurs, let alone us humans enjoying our vacations here on the Outer Banks!
Jellyfish are not actually considered fish as they don’t have a backbone and are considered “invertebrates.” They move through the water by squirting water from their mouths which are inside their bell-shaped bodies. They use their tentacles to sting their prey and while they don’t purposefully attack humans, sometimes accidents happen. You can find out more about North Carolina jellyfish from National Geographic and continue reading to learn more about the types of OBX jellyfish and what to do if you are accidentally stung by one.
Common North Carolina Jellyfish
Cannonball Jellyfish
These jellyfish are the most common type of jellyfish on the Southeast Coast of the U.S. They are most abundant during the summer and the fall. These jellyfish have a round, cannonball-like dome that is often brown with a tiny cluster of arms underneath. Cannonballs, as they are sometimes referred to, are actually a diet staple of the leatherback sea turtle and are also sometimes sold for human consumption! They are mostly harmless with a sting that may itch slightly.
Lion’s Mane Jelly
These jellyfish are one of the largest species of known jellyfish in the world. Their tentacles can sometimes grow to be over 100 feet long, though you won’t have to worry about finding those in Kitty Hawk, as these larger jellies are found in the Arctic. These jellyfish are often brown or red with a thick “mane” of hairlike tentacles. These jellyfish are more often found in the open ocean, but if you do end up with a sting from one of these, it may hurt, so contact a doctor if the swelling or pain becomes intense.
Mushroom Jellyfish
These jellyfish are very similar to Cannonball jellyfish in both shape and stinging ability. They are larger than Cannonballs, in that they can grow up to 20 inches across, and are often brown, white, or light yellow. Mushroom Jellyfish have tiny arms around their mouth and stinging cells within the bell, meaning that they can sting you, but it should be mild.
Southern Moon Jelly
These are possibly the most well-known jellyfish in our area and you can find them at the “Delicate Drifters” exhibit at the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island, but you more than likely won’t find them while swimming on your vacation. Their bells are round like dinner plates and theyusually have the four pink “horseshoes” visible in the middle. If you do see one of these, the sting may result in mild burning at the area of the sting.
Sea Nettle
Of the jellyfish that you are likely to see on the Outer Banks, Sea Nettles are the ones to be most aware of. These brown or red circular jellyfish are common in the summer and have long tentacles with frilly mouth-arms that can give a painful sting. If you or someone else sees a sea nettle in the water, it’s probably a good idea to hang out on the beach and/or exercise caution.
More Dangerous Jellyfish of North Carolina
Sea Wasp Jellyfish
Sea Wasps are also known as Box Jellyfish because their bell is shaped like a box. These jellyfish are not super common to our area, but in the event that you do see one, it’s best to keep your distance. They tend to have several long tentacles that reach out from the four corners of their cube. Stings from Sea Wasps sometimes result in hospitalization but aren’t a common occurrence on the Outer Banks.
Portuguese Man-of-War
The Portuguese Man-of-War is the jellyfish-like creature (they’re not even actually jellyfish, but are a close relative) that is responsible for the bad reputation that jellyfish sometimes get. These jellies that typically inhabit the tropics can be very large, with tentacles that can extend up to 60 feet. A sting from a Man-of-War is often described as “shock-like” and can result in extreme pain and side effets like chills, fever, and nausea that require hospitalization. These jellies rarely make their way to the Outer Banks, but it’s better to be able to identify them, just in case.
How to Treat a Jellyfish Sting
Getting stung by a jellyfish while you’re on vacation can be a scary experience. Thankfully, most of the time, getting stung isn’t an emergency. Here are some “Do’s” and “Don’ts” after getting stung that may help you move on from this unfortunate experience so that you can get back to enjoying your vacation!
DO:
-
Rinse the sting with vinegar.
-
Use tweezers to remove any tentacles remaining on the skin.
-
Take a hot (NOT SCALDING) shower/bath to lessen pain.
-
Check with a healthcare professional for further instructions
DON’T:
-
Do NOT rinse with fresh water.
-
Do NOT scrape off any stingers that may be left on the skin.
-
Do NOT rub the area.
-
Do NOT put urine on the wound - this WILL make it worse.
When in doubt, contact a healthcare professional. Call an ambulance IMMEDIATELY if someone has been stung and they begin exhibiting any of the following symptoms:
-
Has trouble breathing or swallowing
-
Has a swollen tongue, lips, face, cheeks, etc.
-
Is nauseous, dizzy, or has muscle spasms
-
Has been stung multiple times and/or stung over a large part of the body
-
Has been stung by a dangerous jellyfish, like a Portuguese Man-of-War
You can always pack vinegar in your summer first aid kit to stay extra prepared. If you need additional help packing your first aid kit for your summer beach vacation, check out our Tips for Having a Safe Summer and our suggestions for Beach and Ocean Safety.
Book your Vacation Today!
Now that you know what to be on the lookout for, why not head to the beach now and get the chance to see the amazing wildlife of the Outer Banks for yourself? Check out our available rentals and book your exciting Outer Banks vacation today!
*Images courtesy of their respective owners as licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license via Wikimedia Commons.
About the Author: Lauren is the author of two books and a travel enthusiast. She grew up on the Outer Banks and only left for a few years to get her degree at UNC-Chapel Hill and complete a tour in the Coast Guard before making her way back to the beach. When she isn’t writing for the Seaside Vacations Travel Blog, Lauren can usually be found with a book and cup of tea in hand, planning her next travel adventure.
