They're out there riding the tide in the Gulf of Maine, and when they reach shore they'll sting your tender bottom.

The Lion's Mane jellyfish has always washed up onto the coast of Maine, but since lately, they're never been so abundant and so big.

Normally the size of a dinner plate, from Prince Edward Island to the coast of Maine, Lion's Mane jellyfish with a diameter of 6 feet or more have been seen washed up onto the rocks and sand here in our state.

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It's not global warming, because the Lion's Mane jellyfish loves the cold water of the Arctic, Canada and the Gulf of Maine as well. But like any living being, the Lion's Mane jellyfish will go where the food resides, and apparently it resides here, as their presence off the coast of Maine may be because of over-fishing in Atlantic Canada.

But the bottom line is that they are here, and seem to be getting bigger.

The bigger a Lion's Mane jellyfish gets, the farther away its tentacles can stretch to sting you -- sometimes as far away as 100 feet, so chances are you'll feel the sting long before you see the fish itself, if at all.

These predators are not specifically after you, as they enjoy eating plankton, fish larvae and other gross aquatic stuff.  But, if you mistakenly run into one of it's tentacles you're gonna get stung.

Now here's the kicker: Those dead jellyfish that are washed up onto shore can sting you as well when they come in contact with human flesh.

So what happens when you're stung?  In most cases it will be painful if not temporary and leave a red mark. Swimming into one is a different story as you could be stung so many times that the water will actually begin to feel warm or hot to you.  Then, you probably should seek medical attention.

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