Once again, Bull Sharks are the only species of shark that could withstand the cold temperatures of the Great Lakes. Other bull shark sightings in unlikely areas lack the same kind of proof. The truth disclosed! In many parts of Africa, the bull shark is known as a Zambezi shark while in parts of South and Central America its the Lake Nicaragua shark. While these turtles are not aggressive, they have a powerful bite and can cause serious injury if handled improperly. A: The story is pure myth. Female bull sharks reach maturity at around 18 years and gestate for a year, producing between 1 and 13 young bull sharks. The shark was dead, but for several days fishermen in the area were. Unlike sturgeon, muskies are predatory fish, having a diet consisting of other fish up to a third as big, crayfish, small mammals, and waterfowl like ducks. Thus people may have seen this creature instead of a Bull Shark, as it does swim close to the surface. You will find affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Sign in to access your profile, save content and more. It is located in the northern part of the country and is a popular destination for boating, fishing, and other recreational activities. Thousands and thousands of people swim on Lake Michigan beaches every year, and the worst thing they have to fear are riptides and sunburn. creative tips and more. Stories like those give pause to landlocked Midwesterners. Unconfirmed reports of Bull Sharks caught in Lake Michigan have been around since the 1950's. Bull Sharks are not limited to salt water - they can adapt fine to fresh. With that said, there have been anecdotal reports of sharks found dead or sighted in Lake Michigan over the years, but all of them are most likely hoaxes, or possibly mistaken identity, confusing what appears to be a shark-like fish in shallow water with native species like Lake Sturgeon or Muskellunge. Lake Michigan is home to a wide variety of bird species that including herring. Your privacy is important to us. They are known to be aggressive predators and will eat a variety of prey, including fish, turtles, dolphins, and even other sharks. Their real danger is that they destroy native species and, therefore ecosystems. It grabbed her foot, and she kicked it with her other foot, and the fish released her foot, but there were 25 lacerations, and she had to have surgery to repair tendons and get stitches. Bull sharks have not been found in the Great Lakes, despite reports . Rich Fasi of Traverse City says he found a dead 2-foot shark in the water while . Unlike most sharks, bull sharks can survive in freshwater for long periods of time. Yet there is no way to know whether the sharks made their own way there. According to the author, Lawson lost his leg to the infamous Carcharhinus Springer. This attack supposedly occurred in the summer of 1955. : Are There, 3 White Shark Cage Diving Tours In California, How Aggressive Are Bull Sharks? Yet these shows and stories spark peoples imaginations that they think that a shark could be in the Great Lakes. Is it real? In terms of water chemistry, Lake Michigan has a relatively low salinity compared to the ocean, with an average salt concentration of around 0.1%. The first was in Alton, Illinois, in 1937, and the second was in Missouri in 1995. Once dragged under, it is very difficult to escape, and many people do not survive, unaware of the proper procedures to follow when caught in such a scenario. A scientific journal published just a few months ago revealed a new bull shark nursery near North Carolina. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. They are also aggressive, fast, and strong. But experts note that the species's preference for coastal waters less than a hundred feet (30 meters) deep makes bulls potentially the most dangerous . Bull sharks kidneys recycle salt water, so theyre able to swim through rivers and lakes, according to National Geographic. This was originally published in the Chicago Tribune on Aug. 12, 1975: Q: My children and the girls at work dont believe me, but with all this Jawsmania going around I do believe a young lady was killed and no one could figure out how this shark got into the lake. Could A Shark Survive In The Great Lakes? The furthest inland a bull shark has ever been seen in North America is Alton, Ill. Alton sits along the Mississippi River about 15 miles north of St. Louis, and 1750 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. That doesnt mean itll never happen, though. Films like Jaws have conditioned us to see sharks as the ultimate ocean predatorsman-eaters with an insatiable appetite for human flesh. Similar to the bull shark, there have been sightings of piranhas in Lake Michigan. The bull shark is one of the few sharks that have the ability to adapt to freshwater conditions. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. These waves can hit very hard, and surprise attacks can catch people off guard and drag them into the undertow. They have a short and rounded snout and very small eyes. At least two sharks have been sighted in the Mississippi River over the past century, Feldheim told AccuWeather national weather reporter Emmy Victor. It wasnt a bull shark but a blacktip shark instead, but it was a shark non the less. Bull sharks have a nasty reputation, deserved or not, in part because of their size, growing to about 11 feet long and weighing around 700 pounds. But when they navigate to shallower waters for spawning in the spring, if they are seen from above in a boat, they can look like a shark to the untrained eye. By attacking various fish species in the lake, it can cause a major decrease in local populations. As with most invasive creatures, it has only a couple of predators within the lake, can reproduce quickly, and thrives in the Lake Michigan climate. Under the right conditions, they more or less live there. Is It Possible For A Shark To Swim Backwards? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It doesnt happen often, but some shark species can thrive in freshwater, and climate change could increase the chances of an encounter with a shark in the landlocked Midwest, Kevin Feldheim, who conducts shark research at Chicagos Field Museum of Natural History, told AccuWeather. While the possibility of bull sharks in Lake Michigan may be intriguing, it is essential to base our understanding of the natural world on evidence and facts rather than rumors or unverified reports. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes in the United States of America. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. Lake Michigan has unique characteristics that make it different from other bodies of water, including its low salinity and well-mixed water column. Following the release of the movie Jaws in the summer of 1975, Tribune readers had questions about a reported shark attack in Lake Michigan from years earlier and submitted them to the papers Action line, which at the time answers questions, solves problems and cuts red tape.. [confirmed!] In order to understand the presence or absence of a particular species in an environment, it is essential to rely on scientific studies and verified sources. Bull sharks are considered to be one of the most dangerous sharks in the world. The Bull Shark could probably be the only shark to live in the Great Lakes due to its ability to recycle salt through its kidneys and its ability to survive in freshwater environments, but the water temperature does not allow it so. In the United States they are found off the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. This is an invasive species, which has a dorsal fin and tail like a shark. These large waves are usually caused by changes in the air pressure and winds moving across the surface of the lake. We called the publishers of the magazine in Montreal and were told by staff member Jack Dean: Oh that. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Required fields are marked *. Just like with whales, there have been many shark sightings over the years and humans have started to create interesting stories alongside these sightings. Bull Shark Threat: They Swim Where We Swim - National Geographic Lake Michigans immense size lends itself to stories of danger and mystery. That said, the Sea Lampreys only danger to people hanging out on or in Lake Michigan is that its invasive and is devastating the other fish. They are also opportunistic predators and will seek to eat quickly. For the majority of sharks, they need saltwater in order to survive. Do They Attack Humans? Most of these deaths happen because of drowning thanks to the massive waves and strong currents. Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Much more likely, alleged shark sightings and potential shark attacks reported in Lake Michigan, if true at all, are really case of mistaken identity. Swimmers should not take swimming in Lake Michigan lightly. In the Great Lakes, the fish are much smaller than the typical prey that sharks hunt for in the ocean. Sharks in Lakes: Discover the Only Shark Infested Lakes on Earth We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. Though the largest wave to be recently recorded was 23 ft (7.1 m), which occurred in September 2011, the largest wave ever from Lake Michigan to actually strike the coast of Michigan was around 10 ft (3 m). Although bull sharks are considered to be one of the most dangerous sharks in the world, they are also breathtaking creatures that are a sight to behold. Explore what's the truth! Petty Officer Richard Stanberry with the United States Coast Guard told us the Guard receives reports of sharks, alligators, and other pets being put into the lake, but assures you no attacks have been reported. Sharks can be found all over the world. Any reports of bull shark sightings in Lake Michigan should be treated with skepticism, as there are many look-alike species of sharks that can be mistaken for bull sharks.
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