Environment
Attack of the Jellyfish — Literally! More Than 1,600 Beachgoers Stung
- Posted on May 31, 2011 at 9:47pm by
Billy Hallowell
- Print »
- Email »
It’s the attack of the jellyfish! In the past week, alone, there have been more than 1,600 reports of jellyfish “stings” along the coast of Florida. The odd part? The type of jelly responsible for the mass chaos isn’t indigenous to North America! CNN has more:
Monty Graham, a scientist at Alabama’s Dauphin Island Sea Lab, said the jellyfish appear to be what are known as mauve stingers, a species that often blooms in response to small climate cycles like El Nino.
“The interesting thing about these jellyfish is that they’re very sporadic. They occur in heavy numbers, but not every year,” he said.
Watch the following ABC 13 video report about the jellyfish presence on Florida’s Cocoa Beach:
Popular Stories
MSNBC Host Snaps in Heated Segment: ‘What in the World Is Riskier Than Being a Poor Person in America?’ 689 Comments
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 658 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 524 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 361 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 322 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 204 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 221 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- ‘Imperial President’: President Obama Issues Another Major Executive Order Read More
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 147 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 204 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (97)
FREEJAN
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 12:40amI am here visiting on the west coast and it is beautiful. There are no tar balls or jelly fish.
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 4:48amNope, just lots and lots and lots of sharks……. have a nice swim, don‘t worry you’re safe from tar balls there so long as you don’t get any minor nic or scratch while in the water. And try not to breathe too deeply either.
Report Post »dave101sport
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 12:25am@ LOCKED A its El Nino not El nido, B El Nino is a naturally occuring event approx every 5 years, not due to Anthroprogenic global warming. Actually it is not known what causes it. So please check what u think before you type. Also if it was man caused im sure there would be a El Nino tax for the affected areas.
Report Post »Sjah
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:30pm@JZS
Report Post »“vacuous” the very definition of liberalism #1560 =)
ChiefGeorge
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:27pmOh jellyfish crap, we’re surrounded!
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 12:20amYES their going to D.C. to hook up
Report Post »with our JELLYFISH
Locked
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:23pm@Catb,
You’re still a LIAR. I appreciate your revisionism, but I saw with my own eyes what a mess the west coast had in 2010; it could be cleaned up today, but the estimates a year again said it would take several years. Don’t like the truth? So be it. I deal in fact – you deal in desperate tourism. I think the good people of this board know which to choose.
Report Post »Shackleford
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:16pmHas this been blamed on Global Warming yet?
Report Post »godhatesacoward
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:33pmnot yet, but you know it’s coming.
Report Post »thebarbarian
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 12:44ambush did that too
Report Post »KEA
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:10pmI have IE and have never had a problem. I refuse to use anything Google related!
Report Post »illuminoddy
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:02pmthis is great for the economy,, a real job creator
especially for homeless people
they can go to these beaches to urinate on the stings.. and get enough money to refill the ever-present beer-in-hand
Report Post »godhatesacoward
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:12pmbeer piss is nothing but water. (and hep?)
Report Post »illuminoddy
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:17pma perpetual supply of urine and urine funding..
but really.. lucky these arent man-of-wars or another, bigger, species of Jellyfish with longer tentacles, or a lot of those people going into the water would not have come out..
signs of the times..
it wont be long until…. do u remember back in the 1990‘s when they made all those parody’s and movies about life in the 21st century, when everyone was blue from head to toe to protect them from the lack of ozone, and the oceans and earth were all uninhabitable?.. this kind of seems like yet another step in that direction
Report Post »illuminoddy
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:19pmumm, if that were so, you could just drink it,
it has a much better effect on the sting of a jelly fish than urine does
but vinegar will work,,
i’m not sure if people use urine when no vinegar is available, or use vinegar when none ants to be seen making urine available
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:55pmCan we train the jellyfish to scare off the rioters at the beaches so that those who know how to behave can enjoy the beaches without fear?
Report Post »zoose
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:38pmJelly fish don’t attack, humans have to swim into them.
When I lived in Bermuda we would have a wave a Portuguese Man o’ War invasions.
Their stinging tentacles can trail 30 feet, jelly fish float under the surface and can’t be see by a swimmer.
Report Post »godhatesacoward
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:47pmcinderella’s slipper. one the most beautiful creations that float on water, but wait, it WILL KILL YOU. just because your on vacation does not mean you need not pay attention to your surroudings. your in their world now!
Report Post »nomercy63
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:31pmGo back and watch the original Jaws Movie! Shark in the water, people in the water! It is not a swimming pool dummies it is a living eco system! How about covering yourself in beef gravy and walking around the African plains? People are so stupid!
Report Post »godhatesacoward
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:38pmmy point exactly! “Man goes in the water, sharks in the water.”
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:29pmI think someone needs to alert the liberals that these jellies are endangered…. and they should all rush out to the beaches to look for them and save them. So the title should read, “RARE ENDANGERED JELLIES NEED TO BE SAVED FROM DANGEROUS OCEANS”
Report Post »Locked
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:42pmBut… they’re not endangered. Indeed, their numbers are blossoming this season due to events like this (favorable ocean temperatures and an excess of resources to consume). i think rather than luring innocent and idiotic Americans to their deaths or damage, we should try to stem this tide of danger. It affects tourism and the economy of FL, especially going into the profitable summer season.
Best idea would be setting up barriers to rope off safe areas. Potentially also introducing a predator – although that always involves a dangerous, unforeseen backlash.
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 4:42amSilly Person…. don’t you know, Liberals are the best when it comes to roping off areas with their bodies. They’re not afraid of a little sting, it’s for a good cause. UNITE LIBERALS…. Save the Jellies from the dangerous oceans!!!! BP is trying to kill them all !!! Save a life, Save a Jelly!
Report Post »KEA
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:24pmIs anyone else experiencing problems with the pages loading? I have tried 4 different computers and the news report is showing up in a verical column on the right hand side yet the comments section below them is normal?
Same issue at my Fire Department?
Report Post »Locked
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:00pmHad one issue where it said I wasn’t logged in, but that was hours ago. May be a browser issue? Seems like a fair amount of people are having problems.No problems using Google Chrome so far… never use IE, as it is terrible. Which do you have?
Report Post »Dont-hate-on-me-2
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 5:19amdid that too me till i restarted my computer then everything was fine. True story
Report Post »godhatesacoward
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:21pmnot a problem w/ scrolling. but something is fn up the text. btw, jellyfish spawn just as many marine creatures do in spring. wind and currents will push them inshore. nothing out of the ordinary. to many media outlets out these days & everybody has a vid phone. live on the extreme right coast. if the jellies are out my kids no not to swim. i won’t surf. pick up pole, sea mullet are snapping!
Report Post »Phoenixsoulfire
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:16pmthey make the best jelly sandwich
Report Post »Christian Kalgaard
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:11pm“…and to kill by the beasts of the earth”
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:10pmMy suggestion, GET OUT of the water!
Report Post »Locked
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:59pmAh, the JAWS response! Worked well for Amity Island!
Realistically, people are more afraid of sharks than jellyfish. Which is too bad, as these jellyfish are a huge problem right now!
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 4:57amNeed more sharks I think. It’s all in your perspective on this. Big fish with lots of pointy, sharp teeth that can bite my arm off….. or…. stinging jellyfish. Hmmmmmm…… getting stung won’t seem so bad will it?
Report Post »We Are Not Alone
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 6:41pmThey are not only in the water but they are all over the beach….
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:00pmIt’s so bad now in Japan that they are trying to market the jellyfish as food. they have tried many different ways to cook it to get people interested. May as well,,,,it’s reduced the regular schools of fish in their waters.
Report Post »jstalwert
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 9:59pm…slow news day?….think I’ll study weenerweener.
js
Report Post »Locked
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:51pmVote for the gayest comment? Can I get a second?
Report Post »aaron11
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 9:57pmI wish they would fix this scrolling issue on this site! My quad core desktop runs this site good enough. But my dual-core laptop, not so good. Its irritating! Scrolling down takes like 5 minutes!!
Report Post »Locked
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:50pmCould be a browser problem? On two different computers I’ve seen no issues today. Use google Chrome on both.
Report Post »publicuss
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:26pmArcher Comm
Report Post »AudienceScience
Limelight Networks, LLC
AC Nielsen
24/7 Real Media
Amazon E2C cloud
one of them is using a new script that’s a little off kilter
ThomasUSA
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 9:56pmNow.. If the south Asian Peanut Butter fish and these Mauve Stingers attack at the same time does that mean the swimmers were sandwiched between the peanut butter and jellys?
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 9:55pmBushs’ fault.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:45pmEl Nido, actually, or if you want to extrapolate, anthropogenic climate change. Usually these little guys are seen in the Mediterranean, but they can migrate with warm enough ocean temperatures. It’s been about a decade since FL got hit with their last migration.
Report Post »1stAmendment
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:51pmIsrael was definitely behind it!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:05pm@LOCKED .. just so you don’t miss it above
THERE IS NO OIL ON THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA!
Report Post »dtaglione
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:11pmPoor Guy “Locked” with that book learn‘in Doesn’t he know you don’t need to read and undersand as long as you can remember “Bush did it”. 1/2 the country will agree with you. the other 1/2 of the Einsteins blame Israel.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:35pm@DTAGLIONE
WTF are you on about, mate? If you can’t believe proven scientific record, you’re bonkers, not a patriot. This isn‘t Bush’s fault at all – it’s the effect of El Nido, which has become more pronounced due to worldwide human-sponsored climate change. It’s not a fallacy or an opinion – it’s fact. I can deny gravity exists, but it won’t let me fly by waving my arms. Read some scientific knowledge. Science isn’t wrong – it’s either incomplete or extrapolated beyond what it actually proves.
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 4:54am@LOCKE
1) Get a sense of humor
Report Post »2) Try reading some real science…. like some of the basics so you’re not fooled by every BS article about global warming. I have an extensive scientific education and background. Gore if full of crap.
3) Look up the SPPI, The Science and Public Policy Institute. It’s headed by a gentleman named Lord Christopher Monkton. He used to be the science advisor to Margaret Thatcher. They do a great job of turning the lame CO2 argument on it’s head.
4) When it’s daytime tomorrow. Go Outside and look up. You see the big bright shiny thing is the sky? You know, some of us crazy people call it the “Sun”. Well sometimes it runs a little hotter and sometimes a little cooler. I know it’s hard to understand this, but that’s the source of the heating and cooling. STOP READING JUNK SCIENCE…. because that‘s what you’ve obviously been reading!
JoeySocal
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 9:54pmI wonder if anyone tried the old pee on the sting trick?
Report Post »Locked
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:43pmSeems like a vinegar solution is the tried-and-true answer. I realize your response was sarcasm, but it’s helpful to have factual information :)
Report Post »Mobus
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 9:53pmOuch!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 9:53pmThat’s the east coast .. come to the West coast (Gulf of Mexico) of Florida .. we also have the TOP Beach in America….
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/05/27/floridas_siesta_beach_is_nations_top_beach/
No oil either!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 9:59pm@CatB:
True, yet it is interesting the way a mass of jellyfish happens at times; if I recall the info right off of Australia there are two or three types of jellyfish that swarm, stinging hundreds each year – some fataly (allergic reactions). This may be the first I have heard of it being occuring on the east coast though.
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:02pmIf they were all illegal mexicans . How much is that gonna cost me
Report Post »ramburner
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:10pmWhen I lived in Tampa, I found the beaches on the west coast were among the best I had ever been in! Clearwater and especially the pan handle at Santa Rosa Island. This place had perfectly clear water such that when you are out at least a hundred feet from shore, you could look at the bottom through the water and see the fish and crawling creatures clearly. What wonderful beaches, and warm water!
Report Post »jzs
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:12pmI have the same experience here at this website. Because I think statements like “common sense conservatism, small government, less taxes” are vacuous, I’m attacked here by 1,558 people who don’t really understand the issues. They only know I’ve entered their territory and am not one of them.
Floridians exercising your right to be in the ocean, I understand your pain and I’ve got your back!
Report Post »Locked
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:40pmWhat choices Floridians have! Jellyfish on the east coast, or the leavings of the BP oil spill on the west!
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:41pmI went to the beach just north of Cocoa at Canaveral National Seashore over Memorial day and there were plenty of jelly fish there too.
Report Post »Dale
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:00pmjzs
Report Post »I have the same experience here at this website. Because I think statements like “common sense conservatism, small government, less taxes” are vacuous, I’m attacked here by 1,558 people who don’t really understand the issues. They only know I’ve entered their territory and am not one of them.
—————————-
Let me be the 1,559th.
CatB
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:04pm@LOCKED …
There is NO OIL ON THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA! Never was! People like you spreading lies is hurting people .. is that what you want?
Report Post »theonefromabove
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:05pmThat is incredible.
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
Report Post »Locked
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:16pm@Catb
You’re a LIAR. I went to Pensecola in 2010 because people said oil didn’t hit the west coast – TOTAL LIE. The beach had tons of tar balls thanks to the oil spill. Perhaps a year later it’s all been cleaned up – but it was a complete mess last year. We were told it would take years before the oil was completely taken away.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:27pmJelly fish…Is that good on toast??
Report Post »Joe Palin
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:38pmthis is not important and I am disappointed in the Blaze. There was a huge Debt Ceiling vote tonight
Report Post »Whitey4West
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:39pmonly with peanut butter…
Report Post »FREEJAN
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 12:37amI am here visiting on the west coast and it is beautiful, no tar balls or jelly fish.
Report Post »JoeAmerica
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 12:42amThere isn’t a Liberal or Conservative argument here other then stay out of the water. It’s a shame cause when everyone is poor going to the beach can be a cheap outing.
Report Post »MatthewChapter24
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 12:50amI have to agree with CATB about the west coast of Florida having *fantastic* beaches! Siesta Beach has sand like baby powder, the water is warm and the sunsets are beautiful.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 12:53am@Locked
“We were told it would take years before the oil was completely taken away.”
How does it feel to be lied to? Drill Baby Drill!
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 1:03am“The type of jelly responsible for the mass chaos isn’t indigenous to North America!” …
Welp, looks like IT is NOW!
Report Post »Florida_Freedom_Fighter
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 1:05amClearwater Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Madeira beach, Indian Shores, Redington Beach, Treasure Island, John;’s Pass…..All Pinellas County Beaches are currently Pristine and Perfect and never had tar/oil… This where I live, I know and will vouch for it. Gulf temp is 83-85 degrees…..
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 4:43am@Snow
You are thinking of the “box’ jellyfish” known locally as stingers. They are deadly to anybody who is stung by them and only one person in NZ has survived a stinging – no allergy required.
http://www.jellyfishfacts.net/box-jellyfish.html
@JZS
I support your right to speak but you have no right to have people agree with you. If it is any consolation, I always read your posts as I often fing them interesting. Good for you for posting your opinions while knowing that many of them will be unpopular.
@Joe Palin
Report Post »Yes, I’ve also noticed that the Blaze seems to miss some very important stuff while posting less “important” pieces. I did a tongue-in-cheek post on a previous story about yet another muslim exec assaulting a maid. I posted a lightweight story of my own (here if you’re curious http://tvnz.co.nz/sunday-news/video-jetpack-has-lift-off-9-49-4197121 ). I like their mix of stories – they present some interesting stuff that I haven’t found elswhere at the time, but they do seem to miss some big stories as well.
BehindBlueEyes
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 6:37am@catb
Report Post »I’m a long distance swimmer and swim Siesta Key beach the month of March. Last year I had to swim with wet suit protection. The beach was infested with Moon jellies. I saw some that were the size of hubcaps.
PatriotsLikeMe
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 7:19amJZS–wow, you’re that good with numbers, eh? And possessed of an astonishing attention to detail, I mean, to have catalogued all those who’ve not discerned your spark, I think you are just the man this country needs to get our financial house in order. You have my vote!
Report Post »PatriotsLikeMe
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 7:23amWell, just so’s you know, I got stung for the one and only time in my life on the ankle by a jelly fish while I was standing in water just to my ankles in Pensacola Florida back in, oh, I’d say that was probably..1977-ish?
It hurt like nobody’s business and my friend Sue, whose parents owned the condo we were staying at, ran up and got some baking soda. It DID help.
Man, this whole discussion has brought back some pretty painful memories. Gee, thanks Blaze.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 7:26amI noticed these on the beach in north carolina…
Report Post »mikem1969
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 8:50am@JZS, let me add myself to your number. The fact is that no liberal or progressive will ever understand common sense anything, because they have none.
Report Post »SanMoo
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 2:15pmIn the 50′s on the East Coast of Florida–Many bluebottled jelly fish with a baloon above the water —-they are–Portuguese Man-of-War and they were in abundance and the sting was not good…..very bad. Some people who get many stings (swam into a bunch of them) had to go to the hospital…. Another thing to use on the bite is–Meat Tenderizer (Adolphs was what we used).
Report Post »We Are Not Alone
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 4:07pmOMG
We are snow birds and spend 6 months in Cocoa Beach (on the Beach), hopefully they’ll be gone by Nov
Report Post »Last year there were none. I wonder if that is George Bush’s fault…. lol
jzs
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 4:17pmPatriotsLikeMe, awesome. I’ve been thinking about throwing my hat in the ring. I’m also accepting donations. Send the to jzsForPresident.com. Except not yet, I haven’t set up the website.
Report Post »lillymckim
Posted on June 1, 2011 at 5:20pmI have lived on the Florida beaches forever and this was the worst I have ever seen .. its unusual
Report Post »It’s not the norm!