Freshwater Jellyfish Spotted Off Stone Lab Docks — Rare Sight in Lake Erie

A rare and unexpected visitor has appeared in the waters around the Lake Erie Islands. Researchers at Stone Laboratory confirmed the sighting of a freshwater jellyfish off their docks earlier today, an occurrence considered very uncommon in Lake Erie.

According to Stone Lab, the species is an non-native one and is seldom seen in the region. In recent days, multiple sightings have been reported around the islands and as far away as Erie, Pennsylvania.

Freshwater jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbyi) are native to China’s Yangtze River basin and are believed to have arrived in North America in the early 1900s, possibly through aquatic plant imports. They are tiny — typically no larger than a coin — and their delicate, translucent bells can make them nearly invisible in the water.

Though they have stinging cells, they are harmless to humans, as their stingers are too small to pierce skin. The jellyfish typically appear in late summer when water temperatures are warm, sometimes vanishing for years before blooming again for just a few weeks.

The sighting adds to a growing list of unusual wildlife moments this summer, drawing the attention of both scientists and island visitors.

Photo Credit: Kelly Peterson, Stone Laboratory