'Jellyfish' spotted in Greenville lake

GREENVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) - Two Greenville teens spotted a type of freshwater jellyfish in Montcalm County's Como Lake that Department of Natural Resources officials say are not invasive.

Alec Martinez, 14, and his 13-year-old brother Trenton recently saw a swarm of what appeared to be jellyfish, each about the size of a quarter, while on the lake. They captured a few of the creatures, took photos and then released them back into the lake.

Ben Dykstra told 24 Hour News 8 via ReportIt ( watch his video above ) that he caught some of the jellyfish-like creatures in Little Pine Island Lake in Comstock Park last week. He said the jellyfish have been in the lake for more than 40 years.

Michigan DNR Fisheries Biologist Tom Goniea said animals known as freshwater jellyfish do exist in Michigan lakes.

He said the DNR receives calls about the jellyfish around this time every year and that he has received three reports in about the last week.

The jellyfish-like creatures are native -- as opposed to invasive -- species, Goniea said.

They do not sting and are not harmful to humans.

State DNR officials don't know a lot about the jellyfish because they have never heard of anyone taking out a scientific permit to study them.