Cannonball jellyfish found spread along South Carolina beaches

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. — People may want to watch their step if they’re headed to the beach in South Carolina, WPDE reported.

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Cannonball jellyfish, also known as jelly balls or cabbage heads, are spread along the Grand Strand, according to the Horry County Police Department.

Police said the good thing is the jellyfish are mostly harmless to humans and are the least venomous species.

HCPD - Beach Patrol - Cannonball Jellyfish - May 2020
JELLYFISH FIELDS? 👀 Cannonball jellyfish, also called jelly balls or cabbageheads, are very common on our beaches right now. The good news is they’re mostly harmless to humans and the least venomous! Contact with cannonball jellyfish can cause slight itching or eye irritation, but not the painful stings associated with other types. If you see them on the beach this weekend, just watch your step to avoid a slimy squish and go on about your day. To learn more about other jellyfish types that are common on our coast, visit the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources website: http://dnr.sc.gov/marine/pub/seascience/jellyfish.html
Posted by Horry County Police Department on Thursday, May 7, 2020

“Contact with cannonball jellyfish can cause slight itching or eye irritation, but not the painful stings associated with other types,” the police department said in a Facebook post. “If you see them on the beach this weekend, just watch your step to avoid a slimy squish and go on about your day.”

Click here for more information on types of jellyfish than can be found around the Grand Strand area.