Jellies Season: The Worst Is Yet to Come

Swarms of jellies have returned in full force to the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding waterways, but the worst part of the season may still be on its way, according to local environmental experts.

This season is expected to spike, but so far the jellies projections are on par with previous years, according to . However, many residents may not realize the 2012 projections are in fact "normal," due to the fact last year's jelly population was so unusually low. 

"Last year, we were nailed by tropical storm waves and all of this area stayed fresh water for almost an entire year," Muller said. "[2011] was a favorable swimming year, but not that great for water quality." 

Water lovers shouldn't expect anything close to last year, as the 2012 spring and summer have cultivated "ideal conditions" for jellies, also called "sea nettles" and mistakenly referred to as "jellyfish," Muller said. 

"This whole season, everything is about a month earlier because we've been inundated with hot weather," she said. "Jellies love warm water and they need to have high salinity levels [which the South River does]."

When it rains, the salt content in the water is lowered, which slows the migration and prevalence of jellies. But without rain, the jellies are free to roam wherever they find high levels of salt in the water.

Currently, swimmers are most likely encountering male and female adult jellies, Muller said. If the jellies are red in color, that likely means they are  close to their mating period of life. Mating season means the jellies will die soon, but it also means a whole new batch of babies are coming—something that can make swimming in local waters very uncomfortable, Muller said.

"We'll see [babies] all over the river. People wear wet suits when that happens because the stinging is so obnoxious," Muller said. 

Muller, a chemist in addition to serving as the South River Riverkeeper, said children should be cautious of toying with dead jellies on local shorelines. Just because the sea nettle is dead doesn't mean its cells capable of stinging aren't still active, Muller said. 

Chris Trumbauer, riverkeeper for the West and Rhode Rivers, said this year is no different from others, so far.

"I have recently seen sea nettles in the West and Rhode, as well as the mouth of the Severn," Trumbauer said. "I think they are getting extra attention this year, since there were (almost) none in the area last summer."

Trumbauer advised swimmers and beach joggers to be aware of their surroundings. He also reminded them that the old folk remedies for jelly stings of vinegar and urine aren't likely to work.

Hot water, not urine, is a more effective remedy for jelly stings, according to Reuters.

The migration of jellies throughout the Chesapeake Bay can be seen in a real-time forecasting chart hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.