This website participates 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. A scientific journal published just a few months ago revealed a new bull shark nursery near North Carolina. shark jawbone found in the Mississippi River, fisherman caught a juvenile bull shark on the Missouri River, new bull shark nursery near North Carolina. In other words, if there is a bull shark heading straight for you, trying to swim away probably wont help you. Female bull sharks reach maturity at around 18 years and gestate for a year, producing between 1 and 13 young bull sharks. There have been sharks up to 4 feet long caught by anglers at the lake and there are reports of sharks up to 6 feet long in the water. As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. However, there have been some claims about the bull sharks presence in Lake Michigan, but that can be just some fish, as there is a lot of fish in Lake Michigan. There isnt much food that a shark could successfully live off on its way to the Great Lake, which would definitely make it hard for any shark to survive there long. Great Lakes Waters Are Too Cold We called the publishers of the magazine in Montreal and were told by staff member Jack Dean: Oh that. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. In this article, we will be discovering whether seeing a Bull Shark or any shark in the Great Lakes is a fact or just a myth. The varied names stem from the many habitats in which the bull shark resides. So, are there sharks in Lake Michigan? Another dangerous creature is the sea lamprey, a horrifying looking parasitic creature that uses its sharp teeth to clamp onto its prey, making holes in its body and then inserting its rough tongue to access its blood and other bodily fluids. Can you tell me if this story is true? However, sharks cant make their way to the actual Lake from the ocean because of dams that stop the contact between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Home; Listen. My name is Mikayla Adams and I have swum with sharks six times so far. Although, the temperature drops almost to freezing during the winter months, which is too cold for Bull Sharks. Could you help me out or did I dream this? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Bull Sharks In The Great Lakes - Myth Or Fact? Canyon Lake Texas: The Most Beautiful Place in Texas. Is it real? Lake Michigan has unique characteristics that make it different from other bodies of water, including its low salinity and well-mixed water column. Bull sharks are primarily found in saltwater environments such as estuaries and coastal areas and are known for their ability to tolerate freshwater as well. 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 thats around it, and is able to move back and forth between freshwater and saltwater. While no one can say with absolute certainty, but it is a really good bet that Lake Michigan truly is shark free. There are just under 500 species of shark in the world and only three of these are responsible for double-digit shark attacks. But their tail may resemble some species of shark. Lake Michigan is a freshwater lake, the 3rd largest Lake in North America, approximately 118 miles max-width (91 miles min-width) and 307 miles long. They are a threatened species, but theres still enough of them not to cause concern and these creatures will be around for some time to come! The bull shark's range normally spans thousands of miles, from Massachusetts to Brazil, which falls in the southern part of North America, meaning it is closer to the equator and has warmer waters. They are also opportunistic predators and will seek to eat quickly. During her school life, she was a prominent member of the editorial team at the school newspaper. 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. Some of the most popular and well-known fish you can find in the Great Lake include Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Bowfin, Largemouth Bass, and many more. Hence, these reports of a Bull Shark, may be instead people seeing a Lake Sturgeon who has a similar appearance to a shark. These waves can hit very hard, and surprise attacks can catch people off guard and drag them into the undertow. They attach themselves to other fish with a sucker-like mouth and feed on their blood, often causing significant damage and even death to their hosts. While it cant be proven, its up to you whether or not you believe these claims to be true. Could A Shark Survive In The Great Lakes? However, most people do not take beach safety for lakes as seriously as they do for beaches. Instead of following proper guidelines, they are prone to struggling against the currents, which causes them to exhaust all of their energy and get pulled under. 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. Many shark sightings have been credited to being hallucinations or mirages caused by the sun, or misidentification of a lake sturgeon fish, a large fish that is shark-like in appearance. They are known to be aggressive predators and will eat a variety of prey, including fish, turtles, dolphins, and even other sharks. Lake Michigan is over 2000 navigational miles from the bull sharks native habit. Bull sharks have been found in mouths to rivers, such as the Mississippi river, that empty into the ocean, and even many miles upstream. Similarly, the Midwest has the water systems and food sources to support a bull shark, but it simply isnt warm enough. Also known as blue-green algae, its common in many lakes and waterways around the world. 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. Though there have been similar reports of dead sharks washing up on the shores of Lakes Huron, Erie, and Superior, these claims do not have any scientifically documented evidence to back them up either. Their kidneys function a bit differently and they have special glands in their tails that allow them to keep salt in their bodies even when they are in freshwater. Are there any alligators in Lake Murray SC? ring-billed gulls and terns. Two Coho fishermen pulled a 29-inch shark from Lake Michigan about two miles off the Milwaukee shore on April 25, 1969. A bull shark attacked a 7-year-old boy swimming in Lake Pontchartrain in 2014. They can grow up to 33 inches long and have sharp teeth that can and do pierce human skin. 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. Join our Chicagoland history Facebook group for more from Chicagos past. Exploring The Possibility Of Nurse Sharks In Lake Michigan: Ecological : Are There, 3 White Shark Cage Diving Tours In California, How Aggressive Are Bull Sharks? This anecdotal story is of a Wisconsin man who was dipping his foot over the side of his canoe. The species of shark in question is the Bull Shark. The Lake Michigan Bull Shark. [confirmed!] However, the problem lies with the water temperatures. We put the magazine together in four days. Bull sharks are connected to the Lake Michigan conspiracy because of their physiology. The five Great Lakes of North America include Lake Michigan which is located in the United States. Safety First: Sharks In Lake Michigan. These swarms have not been described as very dangerous, as piranhas do not usually attack humans as represented in the media. 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. In conclusion, the question of whether bull sharks live in Lake Michigan remains unanswered. Snapping turtles do live in and around Lake Michigan and are native to the area. We Took A Closer Look, 3 White Shark Cage Diving Tours In California, Are Tiger Sharks Aggressive? With this being said, due to the distribution of Asian Carp through the Midwest and Mississippi waters, this could offer the Bull Sharks a reliable food source. However, these creatures are quite dangerous to the environment because they are an invasive species. It wasnt a bull shark but a blacktip shark instead, but it was a shark non the less. The Bull Shark is the only species of shark that could potentially live in the Great Lakes waters. The likelihood of the shark being in the lake naturally is incredibly low. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. It is very probable that the Rock Sturgeon, also known as the Lake Sturgeon is mistaken for a shark. Bull sharks have been seen in Lake. Films like Jaws have conditioned us to see sharks as the ultimate ocean predatorsman-eaters with an insatiable appetite for human flesh. However, the odds of being attacked by one of these creatures is very low. The bull shark is one of those three, with the tiger shark and the great white shark being the other two. Bull sharks are apex predators, putting them at the top of the food chain. Bull Sharks will rarely swim beyond the Mississippi basin. 2. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Bull shark in Lake Michigan caught on camera? - YouTube How Aggressive Are Bull Sharks? Is that a shark in Lake Michigan? | WGN-TV Please note that Kidadl 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. In addition, the conditions in Lake Michigan are not ideal for bull sharks, as the lake is much colder and less salty than the ocean, which could make it difficult for them to survive. The adults are slow-moving. Discover our four plan options. Though there have been many shark sightings in Lake Michigan, Phillip Willink, a well-respected biologist at the local Shedd . Most deaths that occur in the vicinity of Lake Michigan occur due to drowning, and not due to bull shark attacks or because of any other natural threats. Appetizing yummy cheese facts for kids, or Are there penguins in Alaska? A couple of weeks later, a shark bit a surfer, knocking the 16-year-old off his board and gnawed a 4-inch gash in his leg. They must swallow their food whole because they dont have any teeth. Sharks have been spotted in Lake Michigan for many years, and recent reports have gone viral. The only sharks you are bound to find in the Great Lakes region are those in an aquarium, many of which are a few feet away from the lake waters rather than in the lakes themselves. They are apex predators that dont mature until theyre around 15 or 20 years old. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. It appeared in a magazine titled Killer Sharks: Jaws of Death. Could you investigate? There is believed to be one species of the shark that is able to survive in the Great Lakes. Or, this report near Chicago in 2014 of a possible shark fin sticking up out of the water. Others among the hundreds of shark species scientists have identified can live only for a while in the brackish, somewhat salty water in estuaries the area where freshwater rivers and streams meet the ocean, also called a bay, lagoon, sound or slough. To escape predators, they will often regurgitate the food in their stomachs, thus distracting the predator and giving them some extra time to escape. Even though this shark can be found in freshwater habitats, it is believed that the Great Lakes are too cold for a bull shark to live comfortably, even during the summer. More about how we earn money as an affiliate. There are numerous cities and towns located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Swimming in Lake Michigan is not dangerous because of the aquatic animals that live in the lake, instead it is the water currents that can drag people deep into the lake. Another dangerous organism that is prevalent in the Great Lakes is Cyanobacteria, more commonly known as blue-green algae. It is also known as a Ganges River shark. The Mysterious Shark Attack in Lake Michigan A bull shark? Sharks in Lakes: Discover the Only Shark Infested Lakes on Earth Yet these shows and stories spark peoples imaginations that they think that a shark could be in the Great Lakes. Like all predatory animals, muskies are largely opportunists, and so might try to eat anything if they are hungry enough. Though scientists dont quite have an answer as to why they can do this, they are searching for a way to understand it. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, In our lifetimes its unlikely a bull shark will ever make it deep into the Heartland, though there is new research that shows bull sharks expanding their territory thanks to climate change. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. a lot of fish in Lake Michigan. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. : A, Are There Sharks in Americas Great Lakes? There is a lot more to it than that. Then it is possible that Bull Shark could live in the Great Lakes for a while if it came in from the ocean. Though they do not attack humans, they may use their powerful bite if provoked or startled. MU Podcasts. As a matter of fact, these free campsites are yours. 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. Even boating or jet skiing through cyanotoxic water can cause health problems. One man named Rich Fasi from Traverse City found a dead 2-foot shark on the shores of the Great Lake. The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is a type of requiem shark, putting it in the same family as tiger sharks and spinner sharks. Tanyas write-ups reflect her love for traveling, learning about new cultures, and experiencing local traditions. They are also aggressive, fast, and strong. Juvenile bull sharks are free-swimming when they are born and the parents dont do much to protect them. Swallowing large amounts of it can also adversely affect your kidneys or liver. Some are true, and some are not. There are a couple of theories as to why the shark was found in Lake Michigan. The animals surrounding Lake Michigan may be more dangerous than anything in the water, except the cyanobacteria. There's no telling what might turn up in Lake Michigan. In the United States they are found off the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. Still, there has never been a scientifically-documented report of a bull shark being found in Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan, with a surface area of 22,405 square miles, is the second largest volume of the Great Lakes after Lake Ontario. They will also eat sea turtles and dolphins. In early July, a lifeguard was bitten by a shark on his chest and hand in what Steve Bellone, the top executive in Suffolk County, New York, called an unprecedented event. However, the evidence that theyre in Lake Michigan is nonexistent or, in one case, questionable. Lake Michigans immense size lends itself to stories of danger and mystery. 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. Nevertheless, a bull shark can live for a time in freshwater before ultimately perishing if it does not return to saltwater. 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. 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. In the summer of 2012, a man from Kenora, Ontario, Canada was fishing when he dipped his toes in the water. The majority of the bull shark sighting in Lake Michigan have been proved to be hoaxes though and any that have not been confirmed as hoaxes have also not been proved to be scientifically possible. Bull sharks prefer water warmer than seventy degrees fahrenheit, and Lake Michigan's water is only that warm during a few weeks each year. ACROSS AMERICA If you think sharks are a marvel or menace in the world's oceans only, youre wrong, according to a leading shark expert. Bull sharks are classed as Vulnerable, which means they are threatened but there is no immediate cause for concern. There are two native species of fish in Lake Michigan that could be mistaken for a shark under the right conditions. The presence of dangerous insects along the shores in summer, such as mosquitoes and venomous spiders, should also be looked out for. Bull sharks are a species of shark found in warm, shallow waters around the world. Bull sharks are commonly found in estuaries, where freshwater rivers meet the ocean, and in coastal areas such as bays and lagoons. Whats more, is that one female can lay up to 150,000 eggs each year. Like most animals, they will bite if they feel the need to defend themselves. You've only seen one page. Though the answer to this question may not be exactly what you thought it would be, it is still an exciting answer that deserves to be explored. Though most sharks are saltwater species, the bull shark is a shark species that lives in freshwater environments. For one thing, lock-and-dam systems on the Mississippi could stop sharks from swimming farther inland, Ryan Shell, a paleontologist for the U.S. Forest Service, told The Alton (Illinois) Telegraph. I figured it out., Baseball, softball and girls soccer scores for Aurora, Elgin, Naperville and Lake County, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. However, as with any area youre visiting, know what dangerous animals are around and how to avoid a confrontation if you come across one.