Freshwater Jellyfish On The Rise

You may find you're sharing the lake with a strange visitor this summer. The News On 6's Chris Wright reports rare freshwater jellyfish are turning up in local lakes.

"They are kind of an oddity for us.  We don't see them all the time. Most people can be here 30, 40 years and never see them, be here a lifetime and never see them," said Dan Groom of the Department of Wildlife.

The Department of Wildlife says your odds of spotting a freshwater jelly are much higher this year, but unlike the saltwater ones that reside at the Oklahoma Aquarium, they shouldn't pose any problems for you.

"They're way less dangerous. They have stinging cells, but they're very small," said Groom.

"Everything that I've read on the jellyfish says that they're not able to. Personal experience of handling them, I've never been stung by them," said Julia Gibson of the Oklahoma Aquarium.

All the rain we've had so far this year has created more plankton in lakes like Bixhoma here in Bixby, which means more freshwater jellyfish are showing up here.

While wildlife officials say you shouldn't fret about the jellies while out at the lake this summer, it's still best to look but not touch.

"Not something to worry about.  They're actually pretty fascinating, pretty small, and you have to look pretty hard to find them," said Gibson.

Experts say there is a small chance that someone who comes in contact with freshwater jellies could have an allergic reaction.