Still, there has never been a scientifically-documented report of a bull shark being found in Lake Michigan. The shark was dead, but for several days fishermen in the area were. Almost all sharks need to keep salt in their bodies in order to survive, but the bull shark has developed a rather unique and special adaptation. Thanks to the Mississippi River, they have been found as far north as Minnesota and Illinois. 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. And other interesting facts. Try to pet one, and you may lose a few fingers. So lets dive in! This was originally published in the Chicago Tribune on Oct. 13, 1975: Q: After assuring my children they would not be attacked by sharks if they swam in Lake Michigan, I found an account of a shark killing a Chicago boy by the name of George Lawson in the lake. There have only been reports of small populations in the extreme corners of the lake and not full-fledged infestations. 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. AP: Lake Superior Bull Shark Eradicated by Duluth Autonomous Navy MU Plus+ Podcasts. However, Lake Michigan is a large freshwater lake located in the northern United States, far from the typical habitats of bull sharks. However, they can also be prey for other, larger sharks. It was a real 29-inch shark not a fake, that two Coho fishermen pulled from the lake about two miles off the Milwaukee shore on April 25, 1969. Though most sharks are saltwater species, the bull shark is a shark species that lives in freshwater environments. 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. Well, the answer might surprise you. 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. Sharks need several things to be able to survive, and they are all lacking in the Great Lakes. It isnt impossible, but it is a rare thing to happen. 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. A bull shark attacked a 7-year-old boy swimming in Lake Pontchartrain in 2014. The salt concentration is lower than that of the ocean, but higher than freshwater. 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? 2019 Copyright lakemichigansharkfree.com. It wasnt a bull shark but a blacktip shark instead, but it was a shark non the less. It appeared in a magazine titled Killer Sharks: Jaws of Death. Could you investigate? For perspective, the fastest human swimmers can reach speeds of around 5 or 6 MPH unassisted. However, the problem lies with the water temperatures. It is highly unlikely that bull sharks live in Lake Michigan. But there are a lot of suspect reportsthat could have easily been hoaxed or have an alternative explanation. Though bull sharks have been spotted up the Mississippi River, it is nearly impossible for them to reach the Great Lakes due to numerous physical obstacles. Swimmers should not take swimming in Lake Michigan lightly. Are There Sharks In The Great Lakes? Fascinating Facts Revealed! However, Lake Michigan is a large freshwater lake located in the northern United States, far from the typical habitats of bull sharks. 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. Bull sharks have been found in mouths to rivers, such as the Mississippi river, that empty into the ocean, and even many miles upstream. A lot of people have wondered whether Bull Sharks can live in the Great Lakes. 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. This then causes cells in the animal's body to burst, which then results in the shark dying. Even though you may see sharks swimming up and down the connecting rivers to Lake Michigan and the ocean, it is very unlikely that you will actually find any bull sharks there. The bull shark is one of the few sharks that have the ability to adapt to freshwater conditions. Bull sharks are the most common freshwater shark and can survive in freshwater environments. In fact, just 80 incidents of shark attacks are recorded every single year, yet millions of sharks are killed as a result of shark fin fishing and the use of shark nets. If youve never dived with sharks before, then we urge you to try it. While no one can say with absolute certainty, but it is a really good bet that Lake Michigan truly is shark free. Originally he believed the fin-like shape protruding from the water was just a piece of driftwood, but upon reexamination he thought it may be a shark. Lake Pontchartrain is known for having sharks because they swim in from the Gulf of Mexico, but last night a fisherman caught a large bull shark and wants to bring awareness to the dangers that exi 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. Taking in enough contaminated water can damager your liver or kidneys. It is also a well-mixed lake, meaning that water from the surface mixes with water from the bottom, resulting in relatively consistent water temperatures throughout the lake. They dont really have a notable dorsal fin like a shark. There are a couple of theories as to why the shark was found in Lake Michigan. ring-billed gulls and terns. But in the grand scheme of things, you dont need to worry about them. Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. 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. It has a listing for a shark attack in Lake Michigan in 1955. However, these creatures are quite dangerous to the environment because they are an invasive species. Still, the likelihood of a shark encounter in freshwater is low, experts said. For any other species of shark, the lack of salt will cause the salt in the shark's body to dilute. If youre swimming next to a bull shark and provoking it, theyre incredibly dangerous. Bull Sharks can and do survive in freshwater for quite a while, and reports have shown them to be several miles upriver from their normal habitat. 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. Bull sharks have only ever been documented to be as far north as Massachusetts. Though bull sharks have been spotted in the Mississippi River, which joins Lake Michigan, they most likely do not make their way to the actual lake from the ocean because of the presence of locks and dams which make this journey tricky. Bull sharks are connected to the Lake Michigan conspiracy because of their physiology. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. Instead what they got was a 5-foot bull shark that weighed over 80 pounds. On top of that, sharks do need salt water and salt to survive, even the ones that have developed the freshwater adaptation, so they wouldnt be able to survive in the Great Lake forever. There are numerous cities and towns located on the shores of Lake Michigan. He was able to walk out of the water on his own and had minor injuries. Over and over bull sharks have shown up in waters of the Great Plains, but only through fiction. Nautical Milestone for the Duluth Autonomous Navy . This helps them maintain their salt levels which have a great effect on their lifespan. Things To Keep In Mind When. The truth disclosed! Many are harmless, but some of the species can create toxins that make people and animals sick. There have been stories that Bull Sharks have attacked humans in the past, but humans arent these sharks preferred meal choice. Lake Michigan characteristics It is important to note that there are no confirmed sightings of bull sharks in Lake Michigan. 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. I grew up swimming on the white sand beaches of Lake Michigan, and it seems like Ive known the answer to this question since I was in the womb. A bull shark would have to travel up the Mississippi, through a complicated lock system, and while its possible it could have reached Lake Michigan in the past, now there are barriers in place to prevent the spread of invasive species of Asian Carp from reaching the Great Lakes. 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. This is highly unlikely because the water at the mouth of St. Lawrence is too cold. Much more likely, alleged shark sightings and potential shark attacks reported in Lake Michigan, if true at all, are really case of mistaken identity. Sharks In Lake Michigan? Climate Change Makes It More Likely