While it would have been quite a distance to travel for a bull shark, there have been reports of these creatures making their way hundreds of miles inland through river systems. A shark jawbone found in the Mississippi River in Northern Minnesota in 2017 turned out to be from a sand shark, which can’t survive in freshwater and was most likely dumped there by a pet owner or prankster. In fact, their tolerance for fresh water has resulted in taxonomists naming them after the rivers and lakes they frequent. Bulls make their way into freshwaters to keep their newborn pups safe from harm. The salt concentration is lower than that of the ocean, but higher than freshwater. The only other freshwater shark over 8 feet in length was found in Lake Cumberland, Kentucky in 2001. However, diving should be done carefully, as in the depths of Lake Michigan lurk some dangerous creatures, as well. And the group says in their about text, “Track the whereabouts of Whales in Lake Michigan. According National Geographic, bull sharks frequent freshwater rivers and have traveled as far north as Illinois along the Mississippi River. While this “Third Coast” might sport beautiful beaches and water sports, one would think that this would be the last place to find sharks, but surprisingly there have been reports of these creatures lurking in the depths here, and even at least one attack. Still, some shark species have been known to swim in fresh water. This anecdotal story is of a Wisconsin man who was dipping his foot over the side of his canoe. Usually, adults spend their time in deeper waters. Interestingly, there is a lake monster said to prowl Lake Pepin, the has been affectionately called “Pepie,” so one wonders if sharks are to blame for this phenomenon. In the summer of 2012, a man from Kenora, Ontario, Canada was fishing when he dipped his toes in the water. While the driver survived unharmed, salvage divers who went to in investigate the sunken vehicle got quite a fright when they discovered a full grown 5-foot long bull shark taking refuge in the wreck, lurking there in the murk. It’s not too big but just big enough to challenge,” he says. In 1955, there was a report of a bull-shark sighting all the way up the Mississippi River near Chicago, Ill., in Lake Michigan. Sharks are native to saltwater habitats and Lake Michigan is a 100% freshwater lake. Bull sharks have been found in mouths to rivers, such as the Mississippi river, that empty into the ocean, and even many miles upstream. In the autumn of 2005 shark teeth were found along the Minnehaha creek, a very cold creek not far from the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, which were analyzed and found to be those of a juvenile bull shark and dated as being very recent. It might even suffer from frostbite. You've only seen one page. In recent years there was even recent video footage taken of a supposed shark in Lake Michigan near a place called McKinley beach. You should know these predators and avoid getting in touch in their territory just to be safe. The freshwater lakes … The record for a muskie in Michigan is around 4.5 feet long and weighing approximately 50 lbs. Brackish waters are waters that are a combination of freshwater and saltwater. Tom Martineau, a retired DNR marine biologist, suggests that if a shark was near the water outlet from the power plant it might be able to survive due to the warm water discharge from the plant. However, it’s a good idea to contact the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for unseen hazards in the way of poor water quality. I grew up swimming on the white sand beaches of Lake Michigan, and it seems like I’ve known the answer to this question since I was in the womb. None of these muskie attacks occurred in Lake Michigan. It measured 9 feet 4 inches in length and weighed 512 pounds. There is a documented case where a bull shark was found as far north as Alton, Illinois. In Lake Michigan, is it true that there are freshwater sharks? Bull sharks can thrive in both salt and fresh water and can travel far up rivers. Normally, freshwater causes a dilution of salt in the shark’s body, altering the salt concentration, which ruptures cells and ultimately kills the animal. A story of a boy being attacked in Lake Michigan from a 1975 man-eating sharks book proved to be false after the author admitted he just wanted to capitalize on the Jaws craze. Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time. Lawson was out with many others splashing about and swimming off a boat near the beach when witnesses allegedly saw him pulled underwater, seemingly by something yanking him under and accompanied by the boy’s panicked screams. Bull sharks can survive in both saltwater and freshwater, and have been known to frequent the lake. Bull sharks are the unique fish that can live in both freshwater and saltwater, and well, they do bite. Another example is cataloged in the Global Shark Attack File, a listing to track shark attacks by the non-profit Shark Research Institute. The Great Lakes have over 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) of shoreline and serve as a drain for more than 200,000 square miles of land, ranging from forested areas to agricultural lands, … Shockingly, a dorsal fin was reported by several others on the boat as cutting away through the water right after the incident. We contacted the spokeswoman at the Michigan … When full-grown, they can reach a length of 8 feet and weigh over 100 lbs. The longest freshwater shark on record was found in Deep Creek Lake in the western panhandle of Maryland in 1983. Much more likely, alleged shark sightings and potential “shark attacks” reported in Lake Michigan, if true at all, are really case of mistaken identity. Nevertheless, a bull shark can live for a time in freshwater before ultimately perishing if it does not return to saltwater. Coming back to Lake Michigan, it is incredible that there was yet another shark report in the days after this event. Bull sharks in freshwater environments decrease the salt-excretory activity of the rectal gland, thereby conserving sodium and chloride. The longest freshwater shark on record was found in Deep Creek Lake in the western panhandle of Maryland in 1983. He saw some tangled fishing equipment floating by and started pulling it from the water:"I could see a fish down there about three feet down, but the last thing I expected was a shark on the end," Fasi said. It’s a real photograph, but it does not show a “rare freshwater Marquette shark” caught off the coast of a dog park in Michigan. https://blog.livnfresh.com/dangerous-animals-you-can-find-in-lake-michigan Curious indeed. “The fish that are in the Great Lakes are overall much smaller than the prey items (sharks) can get in the ocean,” she said. Via the Mississippi river. Many attacks are fatal. © 2019 Copyright lakemichigansharkfree.com. The most likely explanation is that it was a pet that got too big and that was dumped into the lake, where it subsequently died. This is highly unlikely because the water at the mouth of St. Lawrence is too cold. As we know, Lake Superior is very cold especially this time of year. And, there has never been a scientifically-documented case of a shark found in Lake Michigan. A better imposter for a shark attack in Lake Michigan is the Muskellunge. Its wide range and diverse habitats result in many other local names, including Ganges River shark, Fitzroy Creek whaler, van Rooyen's shark, Lake Nicaragua shark, river shark, freshwater whaler, estuary whaler, Swan River whaler, cub shark, and shovelnose shark. It is well-known that bull sharks can tolerate fresh water. There are two native species of fish in Lake Michigan that could be mistaken for a shark under the right conditions. A bull shark was caught in Alton Illinois in 1937. One path a shark could take to Lake Michigan is the St. Lawrence seaway, entering the St. Lawrence River north of New Brunswick, Canada, and swimming through Lake Ontario, The Wellend Canal near Niagara Falls, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and finally into Lake Michigan. Rumor has it a young George Lawson was attacked by a shark while swimming at a Chicago beach in 1955. The chances of it, however is so low. That is because there is some most dangerous freshwater fish roaming the river or lake that you swim in. When officials went about using electric shocks to stun the river fish of the area in an effort to find any sharks in the creek they were stunned themselves to capture two healthy juvenile bull sharks that had been lurking there alive and well. The disadvantages to sharks of a freshwater environment, especially one like Lake Michigan, are clearer, according to Peters. Many people visit and/or live on Lake Michigan and the chances of someone getting attacked by a bull shark are again very unlikely. 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There are two possible natural routes: Still, this doesn’t prevent someone from transporting a bull shark via truck and dumping it in Lake Michigan. The Lake Michigan swimmer and water sports enthusiast has nothing to fear from these sleepy giants. They don't mate or actually give birth in freshwater -- they do this in nearby tidal creeks that have a … It seems that in this day and age the dams and levees leading up to the lake would prevent something so sinister from creeping in, but has there ever been a shark or sharks prowling Lake Michigan and if so are they still there? As we traveled around the US, we couldn't h... See More. There have been reports of dead sharks apparently washed up on the beaches in Lake Huron, Erie and Ontario, but there’s no way to tell whether they came on their own or were planted there as pranks. Advertisement . West Michigan Underwater Preserve – Ludington to Grand Haven. According to the 1975 book Man Eating Sharks! So, yes, bull sharks can swim into freshwater and we think they can stay there for several years possibly.”[1]. Phil Willink, a previous Senior Research Scientist at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, says…, “[The bull shark] is able to control the salt and other compounds in its blood, to maintain a balance with the water that’s around it, and is able to move back and forth between freshwater and saltwater. They have a row of very sharp, large, needle-like teeth. Another point against bull sharks making it to Lake Michigan is the extreme difficulty. Besides the extreme distance from the ocean, authorities insisted that the dam system at Alton should have kept any bull shark from reaching the area, making its presence there very mysterious indeed. Or, this report near Chicago in 2014 of a possible shark fin sticking up out of the water. Up to … In February of that next year, a truck fell through the ice of Lake Pepin, which is more or less just a wide area of the Mississippi between Wisconsin and Minnesota. This is mainly due to the build-up of nitrates, and the lower levels of oxygenation in a home fish tank. I don't know what to believe because I've been hearing many different stories about this topic. I am not sure about bull sharks ever being spotted as far north as lake michigan however I wouldn't be surprised if they did. That doesn’t explain how one might possibly have been swimming along the Lake Michigan shoreline on July 11. 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. Lake Michigan Fun Facts. Like all predatory animals, muskies are largely opportunists, and so might try to eat anything if they are hungry enough. “I’d heard of the Lake Michigan monster, but never did I expect to catch it myself,” claims the 63-year-old tourist on a weekend-long vacation in the area. Their kidneys can adjust to the salinity of the water, or lack thereof. read more. Get Directions (219) 879-0034. okay so about 2 days ago my dad was telling me that there are such things as 'freshwater sharks' i googled it, and he was right. Source: wbez.org. Get the MegaPack collection now for this great price. 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. For instance, bull sharks have been found up the Mississippi River as far as Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Waukegan, IL | The capture of a 3,000-pound great white shark in Lake Michigan yesterday could explain the disappearance of hundreds of missing people in the region in the last decade, has confirmed the U.S. Coast Guard this morning. Consider this report in 2008 of a dead two-foot long juvenile black-tip shark (not even a bull shark) found near Traverse City, Michigan by a fisherman. Photographer Michal Furmanek spotted what he thinks could be a shark in Lake Michigan. To be clear, there’s no such thing as a freshwater Marquette shark. Rich Fasi was boating in West Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan near Traverse City, Michigan on Wednesday. … I believe it's possible for the sharks … 1,607 people follow this. Are there Sharks in Lake Michigan? And, there has never been a scientifically-documented case of a shark found in Lake Michigan. This is thought to be due to the fact that they are dormant in colder weather and do not feed year round. Also, some have been seen as far up the Mississippi River as Illinois and a few very rare sightings in Lake Michigan. Unlike most other species of shark, the bull shark’s kidney cells can recycle salt. Some say yes there can be, but others say no. Lake Sturgeon are a relatively rare fish naturally found in Lake Michigan. Even though he didn’t use a hook and line, and the fish was too small, he was allowed to keep it. Lake Michigan may not have sharks cruising its waters, but grad student Philip Hurst tells us about a shark-like species it does have! Although Bull Sharks could make it to Lake Michigan, the water in the lake is far too cold to sustain a tropical fish Like the Bull Shark. … Sprawled out through the U.S. states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan is the majestic Lake Michigan, one of Great Lakes of North America, and at a size roughly slightly larger than the state of Virginia it is the second largest of these giants. Thousands and thousands of people swim on Lake Michigan beaches every year, and the worst thing they have to fear are riptides and sunburn. They have been found swimming hundreds and even thousands of miles into major rivers including the Mississippi river. Or possibly a prank on the fisherman that found it. Tags anomalous animals Bizarre Lake Michigan modern mysteries natural world Out of Place Animals shark attack sharks. Bull sharks have even been known to brave the extraordinarily the frigid waters of these northern locales. Later analysis showed that it was a blacktip shark, which is very odd since not only is the lake far from their habitat, but they have no known tolerance for fresh water. The ... Bull sharks tagged inside the lake have later been caught in the open ocean (and vice versa), with some taking as few as seven to 11 days to complete the journey. The sharks were once thought to be trapped in the lake. km The name translates as “big water”. Freshwater sharks rarely achieve lengths greater than 8 feet. Has there ever been a shark in Lake Michigan? Diet. They all occurred in inland lakes in the Great Lakes region. Tom Martineau, a retired DNR marine biologist, suggests that if a shark was near the water outlet from the power plant it might be able to survive due to the warm water discharge from the plant. The fish was more than 3 feet long. “It takes them out of their normal environment. A group of Tampa Residents were shocked to find bull shark pups in the Hillsborough River last week. It was photographed, but the picture to me looks very similar to the famous photo of “Nessie” in Loch Ness, which was later proven to be faked. There are no documented sightings of sharks in the Great Lakes. No, there are no sharks in Lake Michigan. It would be rare, but bull sharks can survive in fresh water. There aren't any witnesses, but Fasi, of Traverse … Is it real or fake? Other sightings of bull sharks in freshwater include shallow parts of the Amazon River, Lake Nicaragua, and areas off the Coast of Florida. Imagine you jump into the water and come back leaving some of your toes to the fish for snacks. 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. So, there is no species of shark that is native to Lake Michigan. In the wild, a vast body of water will instantly dissolve most impurities. It’s highly unlikely there would actually be a shark swimming around in Lake Michigan. John O’Keefe, a Canadian tourist, captured the 3,000-pound beast while fishing for sturgeon in Michigan Lake. then i had to do this social studies project on lake michigan and i was curious so i went on google and typed in 'are there freshwater sharks in lake michigan?' Try Lake Nicaragua and Lake Pontchartrain - and at the 14th hole of a golf course in Australia! by Felix Dennis, on a beautiful, clear summer day in 1955, one beach along the shores of Lake Michigan was packed with people looking to cool off and enjoy the sunny day, and one of these was George Lawson, a boy from Chicago. A seagull had been perched upon it and alighted when the men approached, revealing something altogether stranger. The big advantage of snorkeling in freshwater is the absence of dangerous creatures like sharks or jellyfish. I don’t include the piranhas in the list … There have been “fin” sightings as was the case in Frankfort. Bull sharks are capable of living in both fresh water and salt water. Sharks are native to saltwater habitats and Lake Michigan is a 100% freshwater lake. However, it was ascertained that it had perhaps been a bull shark that had made its way up to the lake by way of the Illinois River. No shark reports have been officially, “scientifically” documented in Lake Michigan. They don’t really have a notable dorsal fin like a shark. 523 Franklin Street (1,630.52 mi) Michigan City, IN 46360. He was taking pictures of the sunrise at Fort Sheridan Beach July 11 … The whole incident would cause the creek to be closed off to swimming, just in case. Dan Evon Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email 1,516 people like this. Indeed, in September of 1937, two fishermen named “Dudge” Collins and Herbert Copes began to notice that something was ransacking and damaging their fish traps in the Mississippi River near Alton, Illinois. These barriers would also prevent bull sharks from reaching Lake Michigan from this route. She was dangling her feet over her family’s paddleboard when she was attacked by what she described as a “big fish”. He felt a painful tug on his foot, and just like the previous story, jerked his foot back into the boat, pulling a muskie with it. They don't mate or actually give birth in freshwater -- they do this in nearby tidal creeks that have a mix of salinity. The sighting of what appeared to be a large gray fish off of Wolf Island on Lake Ontario was revealed to be a Shark Week hoax. The story has never been proven either way, and become somewhat of an urban legend in Chicago. So, yes, bull sharks can swim into freshwater and we think they can stay there for several years possibly.” Furthermore, Willink says bull sharks have been documented as far as 2,000 miles upstream in the Amazon River, a few hundred miles farther than the distance between Lake Michigan and the nearest saltwater. Smith and other kayakers came across the swarm of jellyfish. It was weak and dying from the cold, but it was still very much alive, and no doubt a frightening sight to see ensconced there at the bottom of a lake within this sunken hull. About See All. Melissa Cristina … Community See All. We have lots more on the site to show you. Take this example of an 11-year old girl in Minnesota. Let me give you some historical background on Lake Michigan and some surrounding freshwater rivers to explain why: In September of 1937, the patience of Alton, Illinois anglers "Dudge" Collins and Herbert Copes was completely exhausted. In Southern Africa, the species is called the Zambezi shark.In Australia, it is known as the Fitzroy creek whaler, and in Lake Nicaragua it is called Nicaragua Shark. https://www.wglt.org/post/getting-bottom-lake-michigans-legendary-shark-attack#stream/0, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_sturgeon. Adler would say of his thoughts as Lawson writhed about and the pool of blood spread in front of stunned witnesses, “I just couldn’t believe it, but I had to believe what I saw happening right before my eyes!” Lawson was rushed to the hospital, where doctors apparently were quick to recognize the bite wound as having been inflicted by a shark. read more. It could also be an adaptation needed to survive in a limited body of water with limited food supply. That doesn’t explain how one might possibly have been swimming along the Lake Michigan shoreline on July 11. Though extremely rare, sharks have been spotted in fresh water areas before. It was later found that the sharks were jumping the rapids on their way into the lake. According National Geographic, bull sharks frequent freshwater rivers and have traveled as far north as Illinois along the Mississippi River. There aren’t as much food and friends. I doubt that the bull sharks could … Other sightings of bull sharks in freshwater include shallow parts of the Amazon River, Lake Nicaragua, and areas off the Coast of Florida. 0 0. www.nosharksgear.com. Anglers Gil Scharnek and Cal Lukasavitz were reportedly out on the lake one day when they spied what they at first thought to be a piece of debris or flotsam. Recycling the salt its body already contains allows bull sharks to adapt to a freshwater environment. They are bottom feeders, feeding on soft live food, such as worms, leeches, and insect larvae. While no one can say with absolute certainty, but it is a really good bet that Lake Michigan truly is shark free. From the Lake Michigan shark story from 1955, someone made a great point that during that time the story may not have been made aware to the public due to the fact that it may affect the tourism for Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan is over 2000 navigational miles from the bull sharks native habit. I just need a correct answer to this topic. We started No Sharks out of our love for Lake Michigan. But there are a lot of suspect reports…that could have easily been hoaxed or have an alternative explanation. Lake Michigan Dolphin Population On The Rise The Freshwater Bottlenose Dolphin is making a comeback in the Great Lakes. The sharks were apparently then sent to the Minnesota zoo and survived the ordeal. Since the XIX century, the lake has been chosen for recreation by … A bull shark is a species of shark that is able to alter its physiology to live in brackish waters. 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. Only bull sharks would have the ability to survive in fresh water. But, many people that are from outside the Great Lakes region are interested to know if there are sharks in Lake Michigan. Let’s look at the different reports. Brazil's Amazon Coast is home to one of the most geographically restricted shark species in the world. Reports of whales in Lake Michigan are also patently untrue. The bull shark's diet consists mainly of bony fish and small sharks, … Contact Unsalted No Sharks on Messenger . Also, some have been seen as far up the Mississippi River as Illinois and a few very rare sightings in Lake Michigan. Bull sharks, for instance, have evolved to restrict the removal of salt from their bloodstream, allowing them to spend time upriver from coastal areas. Some bull sharks can be found thriving in estuaries, where salt and freshwater mix. For eons these sleek torpedoes of gaping maws and teeth have hunted in our oceans, and since we have been aware of them have captured our attention. One man named John Adler managed to reach the thrashing boy and pull him aboard the boat, where it was found that the victim was entirely missing one of his legs below the knee. The plan worked, and they began to haul up something very large and very pissed off, but rather than the granddaddy catfish they expected to pull up instead they found it to be a bull shark that measured over five-feet long and weighed 84 pounds, thrashing and biting rather threateningly. Interestingly, Kenora is home to a 36-foot tall roadside statue of a muskie leaping out of the water. But shark attacks are extremely rare, said John Carlson, a research biologist at … Source: wbez.org. But their tail may resemble some species of shark. 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