Yes, Believe it Or Not, Jellyfish Have Been Spotted in Missouri

I had to do a double-take when I saw this, then spend hours doing research to confirm it. But, believe it or not, jellyfish really have been spotted in Missouri and it's not really as weird as you might think.

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I first saw KSN report on this wild jellyfish spotting in Missouri. For me, the thought of jellyfish in Missouri is like saying Bigfoot was spotted ordering a cheeseburger in a drive-thru. The fact is that jellyfish in Missouri have been around for years and this isn't a wild theory, it's truth shared by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

If I see jellyfish in Missouri, will they sting me?

The Missouri Department of Conservation mention of jellyfish includes some interesting differences compared to what you'd expect from jellyfish in the ocean. The species in Missouri grow up to an inch in size and can sting, but they say it doesn't normally penetrate human skin.

What's the status of jellyfish in Missouri?

Here's what the Missouri Department of Conservation says:

In Missouri, common but sporadic in occurrence. Usually, people only see the medusa stage, from July through September, when the surface of the water reaches about 80F.

So you're saying there's a chance?

If you're a Missourian, you're allowed to say "Show me". Here are some from Lake Tom Sawyer a few years ago.

The good news is that although it's true that jellyfish can and do appear in Missouri, it doesn't appear they'll cause you a real problem. Or, at least that's the hope.