A massive jellyfish has been reported washing up on the shores of a popular vacation spot, prompting warnings for both locals and visitors alike.

If you've ever been stung by a jellyfish, you understand the intense pain that comes with it. Personally, I was stung once when I was a child—about 17 years ago—and it was excruciating at the time.

That jellyfish had tentacles that remained attached when I yanked my arm away, and while I screamed in pain at the age of eleven, my dad tried to help by relieving himself on my hand, which ironically only caused further harm.

Fortunately, I declined his suggestion and chose to endure the pain. However, I might have reconsidered if it had been a lion's mane jellyfish, as these creatures are truly massive. To put it in perspective, they are nearly as large as the Statue of Liberty—about 80% of the monument's size, with tentacles reaching up to 120 feet in length.

This species can grow up to 12 feet longer than blue whales, although they weigh less due to their long tentacles.

The latest sighting of a giant jellyfish was on the shores of Willard Beach in South Portland, Maine, and it has caught the attention of local authorities.

The City of South Portland posted on Facebook: “Spotted this weekend at Willard Beach: A nearly 5-foot-wide lion’s mane jellyfish!”

“If you see one, here’s what to do: Don’t touch it! They sting. Instead, observe it—these jellyfish are fascinating to watch and quite beautiful. If you see one washed up at Willard Beach, notify a lifeguard who can help return it to the water using a shovel.”

The Wildlife Trust warns that this species can deliver a potent sting, advising anyone who experiences severe swelling or welts to seek medical attention.

Since 2014, Nicholas Record, a senior research scientist at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, has been tracking these jellyfish, and there’s been an increase in sightings recently.

In a 2019 interview with weather.com, he shared that lion’s mane jellyfish were responsible for almost all of the sightings in the region.

"In a typical year, the largest ones reported are about the size of a dinner plate, but this year, I’ve received several reports of jellyfish measuring up to two feet in diameter, and a few that are as large as five feet across," Record said.

“These jellyfish are generally a sub-Arctic species, and they’re not new to the Gulf of Maine, but the size of these jellyfish and the fact that they’re the only ones we're seeing this year makes this occurrence unique."