In many parts of Africa, the bull shark is known as a Zambezi shark while in parts of South and Central America it's the Lake Nicaragua shark. Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time. Of the five, it is the third-largest, behind Lake Huron, and then the largest, Lake Superior. Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. The area contains highly venomous spiders such as the brown recluse and black widow. What Are The Differences Between Shark And Dolphin Fins? These waves average at around 20-22 ft (6.1-6.7 m), which is around the height of 3-4 average humans! The account to which you refer doesnt have much going for it. Pirhanna and Pacu are also fish with sharp teeth that have been known to bite people. 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. In the Great Lakes, the fish are much smaller than the typical prey that sharks hunt for in the ocean. And while Shell, the forestry service paleontologist, and others say that while theres no need for panic, inland sharks could become more common. Similarly, the Midwest has the water systems and food sources to support a bull shark, but it simply isnt warm enough. 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. The Ultimate Guide To Shark Cage Diving In Florida, Everything You Need To Know About Tiny Sharks And Why Theyre Nothing To Be Afraid Of. The Great Lakes have inland beaches, similar to saltwater beaches, which are very popular with holiday goers. This kind of prey is very scarce and rare in freshwater areas. Its not uncommon for freshwater eel to show up in places like South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. This means if a bull shark did make the long migration north, it would have to head south again before winter. The possibility of these sharks making their way into Lake Michigan . Louisiana Angler Catches Bull Shark from Lake Ponchartrain - Field & Stream But We Are More Agile, 19 Types Of Rattlesnakes That Live In North America, 5 Types Of Foxes That Live In North America, What Baby Rattlesnakes Look Like. Though they do not attack humans, they may use their powerful bite if provoked or startled. In response, the anglers built a strong wire trap and baited it with chicken guts to catch the musky they assumed was terrorizing their setups. Instead what they got was a 5-foot bull shark that weighed over 80 pounds. Yet the Bull Shark has the special ability to recycle salt in its kidneys, thus making it able to survive in freshwater conditions and environments. Well send you the 50 Best Free Campsites in the USA (one per state). Man finds dead shark in Lake Michigan - NBC News Is It Possible For A Shark To Swim Backwards? Bull Sharks will rarely swim beyond the Mississippi basin. During her school life, she was a prominent member of the editorial team at the school newspaper. 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. A lot of people have wondered whether Bull Sharks can live in the Great Lakes. They are known to be aggressive predators and will eat a variety of prey, including fish, turtles, dolphins, and even other sharks. By attacking various fish species in the lake, it can cause a major decrease in local populations. What follows are a sampling of the answers provided by Tribune reporters. The bull shark belly is white and they have a dark grey body. Lake Michigan Bull Shark. Also, there was once a dead bull shark found on the shore of Lake Michigan, but no one knows how it got there. 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. The Northern Snakehead isnt aggressive toward people but will bite if they feel threatened. Ensuing publicity regarding the prospect of sharks in the lake brought forth a confession from a tavern owner, who said two of his customers planted the fish in the lake for him as a joke. 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. If this animal tried to enter from the other side, the bull shark would somehow have to cross Niagara Falls, which borders the Canadian state of Ontario and cross Lake Huron to enter Lake Michigan. Sharks in Lakes: Discover the Only Shark Infested Lakes on Earth Rumor has it that a Bull Shark was once caught in Lake Michigan in the 1950's but that's about all the information we have. Shark bites have been reported off the Pacific coast as well. Last year a group of biologists netted an adult in Cottonwood Lake, a shallow body of water more than 30 miles off the Yellow Medicine River in Minnesota. Have you seen any dangerous creatures in or around Lake Michigan? This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for. There are a couple of theories as to why the shark was found in Lake Michigan. This blooming is when the toxins are produced. From what we have discussed, the chances of a shark being in the Great Lakes is very low. There have been documentaries on the Discovery Channel that talks about sharks swimming in lakes and rivers. This creature is also very adaptable and can reproduce very quickly. As with any outdoor activity, it is important to exercise caution and respect the natural environment when enjoying the lake and its surroundings. Sharks need several things to be able to survive, and they are all lacking in the Great Lakes. The only shark able to survive in freshwater environments is the bull shark that can recycle salt levels in its kidneys, keeping its cells from rupturing. It can live in both saltwater and freshwater and is found all over the world. There have been multiple reports of bull shark sightings in Lake Michigan for years and years. It is also known as a Ganges River shark. While bull sharks are known to be adaptable and can tolerate freshwater environments, there is no concrete evidence to support their presence in the lake. Tanya always had a knack for writing which encouraged her to be a part of several editorials and publications across print and digital media. The salt concentration is lower than that of the ocean, but higher than freshwater. Lets look at the different reports. Since I lived in Chicago at that time, and then, as I do now, had some interest in sharks. Things To Keep In Mind When, The 10 Best Shark Documentaries Ever Made, Are There Any Sharks In Myrtle Beach: 9 Common Sharks, Shark Attacks In Hawaii: Do They Happen Near Tourist, Do Bright Colors Attract Sharks? [confirmed!] 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. AP: Lake Superior Bull Shark Eradicated by Duluth Autonomous Navy Also, there was once a dead bull shark found on the shore of Lake Michigan, but no one knows how it got there. In 1955, a young boy was reportedly bitten by a shark in the lake, and people have made a couple of other reports of seeing sharks there. It has a listing for a shark attack in Lake Michigan in 1955. The Northern Snakehead Fish is probably the creepiest of all because it can wiggle-walk its way across the land to a new lake when it runs out of food in one. 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. Taking in enough contaminated water can damager your liver or kidneys. My name is Mikayla Adams and I have swum with sharks six times so far. So, are there any sharks in Lake Michigan? This algae reproduces quickly in warmer environments when the movement of the water is slow and can survive in nutrient-rich waters. Lake Michigan has unique characteristics that make it different from other bodies of water, including its low salinity and well-mixed water column. They are also opportunistic predators and will seek to eat quickly. So, the river systems allow for bull sharks to get here, but would they stay? Getting to the Bottom of Lake Michigan's Legendary 'Shark Attack' then why not take a look at What cheese does Chipotle use? These waves can hit very hard, and surprise attacks can catch people off guard and drag them into the undertow. Also, their other abilities are much stronger than other species of sharks as well. 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. They are incredibly fast and agile creatures. The Lake Michigan Bull Shark. Lake Michigan is home to a wide variety of bird species that including herring. We have lots more on the site to show you. It appeared in a magazine titled Killer Sharks: Jaws of Death. Could you investigate? The biggest concern for people planning to swim in this lake is not a bull shark attack, but how to deal with the dangerous riptides! In Lake Michigan, as with most shark species, the most active months . 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. Are there any alligators in Lake Murray SC? We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. Bull sharks are classed as Vulnerable, which means they are threatened but there is no immediate cause for concern. Its not the biggest shark species in the sea, but its one of the most ferocious. So lets dive in! Yet these shows and stories spark peoples imaginations that they think that a shark could be in the Great Lakes. Sharks have been spotted in Lake Michigan for many years, and recent reports have gone viral. The animals surrounding Lake Michigan may be more dangerous than anything in the water, except the cyanobacteria. Unfortunately, a high number of people drown at Lake Michigan every year because of the harsh water currents. Do bull sharks live in Lake Michigan? Separating Fact from Fiction What Are The Differences Between Shark And Dolphin Fins? Bull sharks are a species of shark that can be found all over the world. Sharks In Lake Michigan: True Story or Urban Myth? These stocky beasts are agile hunters and they are incredibly adaptable, thriving in rivers as well as the ocean. 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. So, there is no species of shark that is native to Lake Michigan. A: In our business, its easier to prove something did happen rather than that it didnt and somebody made it up. Considered a place of great beauty and very popular with tourists, this water body has a dark side as well. They also inhabit mangrove swamps and are known to swim upstream in rivers and even travel long distances inland to reach freshwater lakes. This is highly unlikely because the water at the mouth of St. Lawrence is too cold. 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. However, the lamprey are difficult to eradicate because the larval forms dig into the sediment and can live there for up to ten years. 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. Bull sharks can tolerate a wide range of water temperatures, from as low as 12C to as high as 30C, and survive in water with low oxygen levels. Bull sharks prefer water warmer than seventy degrees fahrenheit, and Lake Michigan's water is only that warm during a few weeks each year. Though disasters like tsunamis and high tides do not occur in inland lakes, there are still very dangerous water currents and riptides that can drown people easily. When I worked for the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, it was inevitable that every summer Id get approached by people asking about sharks in the Missouri River. In the United States they are found off the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. MU Plus+ Podcasts. Much more likely, alleged shark sightings and potential shark attacks reported in Lake Michigan, if true at all, are really case of mistaken identity. Just like the Loch Ness monster in Scotland, there are now rumors circulating that these creatures have been living around the towns of the Great Lakes for hundreds of years. Via the St. Lawrence seaway, through the locks at Niagara Falls, and through three of the Great Lakes (Ontario, Erie, and Huron) to make it to Lake Michigan. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! 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. 3 Creepy Creatures That Could Be Lurking in Lake Michigan - 103.3 WKFR Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com. Two Coho fishermen pulled a 29-inch shark from Lake Michigan about two miles off the Milwaukee shore on April 25, 1969. Explore what's the truth! Overall, the question of whether bull sharks live in Lake Michigan highlights the importance of scientific inquiry and the need for reliable sources of information. Or possibly a prank on the fisherman that found it. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. Stories like those give pause to landlocked Midwesterners. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Some of the largest and most well-known cities include Chicago, Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Grand Rapids. The shark was dead, but for several days fishermen in the area were uneasy. I figured it out., Baseball, softball and girls soccer scores for Aurora, Elgin, Naperville and Lake County, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. After that, theyll migrate back to the ocean to complete their life cycle. There are two native species of fish in Lake Michigan that could be mistaken for a shark under the right conditions. How Deep is Lake Superior? Which is to keep invasive species out. I had a hard time believing that such a rare event would have been widely published by the Chicago media. Bull sharks have the reputation of being among the top three shark species responsible for attacks on humans, the other two being great whites and tiger sharks. Lake Michigan, with a surface area of 22,405 square miles, is the second largest volume of the Great Lakes after Lake Ontario. Theyve been overfished, like other plummeting shark populations worldwide, but their biggest threat is accidental capture in fisheries targeting other species, according to Oceana. That fact makes it kind of hard to bite a human leg. More about how we earn money as an affiliate. Pro Tip: After searching for creepy creatures in Lake Michigan, explore these 7 Amazing Waterfalls in Michigan. Shark attacks are rare and fatal attacks are even less common in the United States but the rapid succession of bites off Long Island are an indication that what we are looking at is something of a new normal as sharks swim closer to shore, Bellone said. Many are harmless, but some of the species can create toxins that make people and animals sick. These sharks would also have to pass the infamous electric barrier constructed on the Illinois waterway, near Chicago, which keeps away invasive species from entering the ecosystem of the Great Lakes. There are two possible natural routes: Via the St. Lawrence seaway, through the locks at Niagara Falls, and through three of the Great Lakes (Ontario, Erie, and Huron) to make it to Lake Michigan. Black and white feature image is of Alton shark. Bull sharks are known to be adaptable and can tolerate freshwater environments for short periods of time, but they typically prefer saltwater habitats. Though most sharks would not be able able to handle the absence of salt in water, causing their cells to rupture, a bull shark's kidneys are able to recycle salt and maintain proper salt levels while it is in a freshwater environment. However, they can also be prey for other, larger sharks. The five Great Lakes of North America include Lake Michigan which is located in the United States. One of the most distinctive features is a triangle-shaped dorsal fin. Thousands and thousands of people swim on Lake Michigan beaches every year, and the worst thing they have to fear are riptides and sunburn. 131 likes. There have been stories that Bull Sharks have attacked humans in the past, but humans arent these sharks preferred meal choice. That means the bull shark would have to. Their real danger is that they destroy native species and, therefore ecosystems. 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. They are bottom feeders, feeding on soft live food, such as worms, leeches, and insect larvae. They are known to be aggressive predators and will eat a variety of prey, including fish, turtles, dolphins, and even other sharks. Lake Michigan has unique characteristics that set it apart from other bodies of water. A bull sharks diet consists of everything from bony fish to small sharks, sea turtles, sea birds, and even other bull sharks. Hence, these reports of a Bull Shark, may be instead people seeing a Lake Sturgeon who has a similar appearance to a shark. The lake is known for its beautiful scenery, including sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, and clear blue waters. Often sharks will try to avoid any large changes in the waters temperature. 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. Appetizing yummy cheese facts for kids, or Are there penguins in Alaska? Sharks typically dont like to live in areas that have cold waters. Though most sharks are saltwater species, the bull shark is a shark species that lives in freshwater environments. 2019 Copyright lakemichigansharkfree.com. Another theory is that someone was keeping it as a pet and it died, so they dumped the body in the lake. There are numerous cities and towns located on the shores of Lake Michigan. Your email address will not be published. However, Lake Michigan is a large freshwater lake located in the northern United States, far from the typical habitats of bull sharks. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. American eels are born far offshore in the Atlantic Ocean and immediately migrate towards North America. It can live in both saltwater and freshwater and is found all over the world. Pro Tip: Dont let the creatures of Lake Michigan stop you from some amazing campgrounds. 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. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. It was a real shark, but a hoax. When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. 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. It is quite unlikely that you will see a Bull Shark in the Great Lakes, especially as there isnt much food for them to eat, and a lot of barriers in their way to the lakes. There are also rumors of bull sharks and other deadly creatures lurking in the lake. They have been reportedly seen in Lake Michigan, although some instances, like this dead bull shark found on the lake's shore, are a bit uncertain. Required fields are marked *. They have powerful jaws, sharp reactions, and even sharper teeth. Are There Any Other Fish In Lake Michigan? Aug. 30, 2008, 9:30 PM PDT / Source: The Associated Press. Lake Michigan is responsible for the most deaths happening in a lake per year, which averages out to 38. Most of these accidental captures take place when these sharks are upriver, Oceana said on its website, adding that while bull sharks are occasionally targeted in culling operations to increase beach safety, those practices have done little to protect people from sharks. If you are planning a visit to Lake Michigan, piranhas should not be a concern for you.