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. 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. In a book I was reading recently there is an account of an attack on a swimmer, George Lawson, in Lake Michigan. Theyll then head up freshwater streams such as the Mississippi and Hudson rivers where theyll spend 10 to 25 years maturing. Sign in to access your profile, save content and more. To escape predators, they will often regurgitate the food in their stomachs, thus distracting the predator and giving them some extra time to escape. 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. 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. Try to pet one, and you may lose a few fingers. When it comes to freshwater, there arent many positives for sharks. So, are there sharks in Lake Michigan? 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. 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. What lake has sharks? - Lake Access Normally, a freshwater dip would dilute the salt in a shark's body, causing its cells to rupture and kill it. In fact, there is a semi-permanent population in Lake Nicaragua that was thought until recently to be a separate species, Oceana said, noting bull sharks can give birth in freshwater., During these long periods inland, bull sharks come into close contact with people, and most of the incidents when they have bitten people have been in rivers rather than the ocean., shark attack bites in U.S. coastal waters, Shark Bites The Hand That Tried To Free It. One of the most distinctive features is a triangle-shaped dorsal fin. Bull sharks are connected to the Lake Michigan conspiracy because of their physiology. One of the biggest shark-related sightings and conspiracy theories of Lake Michigan is the belief that bull sharks live in the Great 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. Lake Michigans immense size lends itself to stories of danger and mystery. Because of its size, Lake Michigan is located in a few states, which include Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and of course, its namesake, Michigan. However, these creatures are quite dangerous to the environment because they are an invasive species. A surfer in Pacific Grove, California, was hospitalized in June with severe stomach and leg injuries after a possible shark attack. Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! This blooming is when the toxins are produced. Home; Listen. So, believe what you feel is right! Although there have been occasional reports of bull sharks in Lake Michigan, these reports are unverified and should be treated skeptically. 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. Bull sharks are commonly found in estuaries, where freshwater rivers meet the ocean, and in coastal areas such as bays and lagoons. Today, were investigating the most dangerous creatures in Lake Michigan. The Lake Michigan swimmer and water sports enthusiast has nothing to fear from these sleepy giants. Like all predatory animals, muskies are largely opportunists, and so might try to eat anything if they are hungry enough. There are so many free campsites in America (with complete privacy). Florida led all states in each of those years. How Deep is Lake Superior? To be honest with you,we hate paying for camping. Do They Attack Humans? 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. 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. So far this year, there have been 28 shark attack bites in U.S. coastal waters, none of them fatal, in Florida (16), New York (6), California (2) and South Carolina (2), according to a database on the Tracking Sharks website. Yes, bull sharks can survive in freshwater for long periods of time. 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. 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. 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. Normally, freshwater causes a dilution of salt in the sharks body, altering the salt concentration, which ruptures cells and ultimately kills the animal. 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 On top of this, there are plenty of songbirds and other shorebirds that youre likely to come across if you find yourself on the shores of Lake Michigan. Bull sharks have been discovered up to 1,000 miles deep into the Mississippi, but the waters are much warmer than those found in the Great Lakes. There are more than 500 species of shark that currently live on earth and they can be found in every ocean. The record for a muskie in Michigan is around 4.5 feet long and weighing approximately 50 lbs. Exploring The Possibility Of Nurse Sharks In Lake Michigan: Ecological In the summer of 2012, a man from Kenora, Ontario, Canada was fishing when he dipped his toes in the water. However, they can also be prey for other, larger sharks. A: Youre correct in recalling that a shark was found, but you must have dreamed the attack. Black and white feature image is of Alton shark. You will not find paid product promotions or sponsored content on this site. Join our Chicagoland history Facebook group for more from Chicagos past. Did a shark attack occur in Lake Michigan? Here's what Tribune Known as Huskie the Muskie, it is the citys unofficial mascot. Once theyve found a home, theyre difficult to remove. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. More about how we earn money as an affiliate. They Dont Have A Rattle, 10 Of The Most Dangerous Types Of Spiders In North America. They also inhabit mangrove swamps and are known to swim upstream in rivers and even travel long distances inland to reach freshwater lakes. Exclusive shows & extensions. With the abundance of carp, catfish and panfish found in nearly every Midwestern stream, a bull would stay fat and happy. Juvenile bull sharks are free-swimming when they are born and the parents dont do much to protect them. However, Lake Michigan is a large freshwater lake located in the northern United States, far from the typical habitats of bull sharks.