Wildlife officials across the U.S. are reassuring the public after reports of unusual, jelly-like sacs found in murky lake and river waters. While these sticky, translucent blobs have sparked panic online, with some comparing them to alien egg pods, they are actually harmless aquatic creatures known as bryozoans. Despite their bizarre appearance, officials are emphasizing that bryozoans pose no threat to humans or wildlife. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife has confirmed that these creatures are native to the area and completely harmless.

Bryozoans are colonial invertebrates that have existed for over 470 million years. Each sac is made up of thousands of tiny creatures called zooids, which clone themselves and build soft chitin shells underwater. These colonies attach to submerged objects such as rocks, branches, or docks, where they filter tiny particles from the water to feed. While their presence may seem unsettling, bryozoans play an important role in aquatic ecosystems by improving water quality and providing food for mussels, snails, and small fish. They thrive in summer but typically die off in cold weather, releasing reproductive statoblasts that ensure the continuation of their cycle each spring. Found on every continent except Antarctica, bryozoans are more like delicate coral than alien invaders, and officials encourage curiosity rather than fear when encountering them.