Fever of rays spotted in Tampa Bay

Image 1 of 17

This might be enough to send chills down the spine of any Florida beachgoer: SkyFOX caught a glimpse of hundreds of rays swimming together in Tampa Bay on Wednesday.

Several species of ray live in the bay and the Gulf of Mexico, and many won't hesitate to strike with their sharp barb if you happen to step on them in the sand.  As many residents know, it's best to drag your feet along the bottom of the beach -- the so-called stingray shuffle -- in order to avoid stepping directly on them.

The rays spotted by SkyFOX this week are most likely cownose rays, which often swim together in groups of hundreds or even thousands -- a formation known as a fever.

Fortunately for any Thanksgiving beachgoers, this particular fever was way out in the middle of Tampa Bay, several miles from any swimmable beach.

WATCH: See the video from SkyFOX