Note: Please read the updates below, because the validity of the reported bull shark attack, via the Global Shark Attack File, is questionable, and I believe it’s merely myth. First, there seems to be no press record or mention of the 1955 attack. Furthermore, Lake Michigan is mostly too cold to sustain bull sharks, which are a tropical/subtropical species that will “migrate north along the coast of the U.S. during summer, swimming as far north as Massachusetts, and then return[ing] to tropical climates when the coastal waters cool.” Even in August, Lake Michigan surface temperatures are barely warm. One study found that young bull sharks left a “lagoon during winter months . . . when water temperatures dipped below 68 degrees.” Additionally, an electric dispersal barrier was constructed to prevent nuisance species from entering Lake Michigan from the Mississippi River Basin and vice versa; although Asian carp may have breached the barrier. Most likely, the Lake Michigan bull shark attack is myth, and may have resulted from more credible sightings of bull sharks in the Mississippi River.
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ORIGINAL POST (15 July 08): According to the Global Shark Attack File, in 1955 George Lawson had his right leg bitten by a bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) while swimming in Lake Michigan near Chicago. Apparently, the attack was unprovoked and by surprise. The incident log does not mention any other attacks from Lake Michigan, so it appears the incident was an aberration. However, freshwater shark attacks, although rare, are possible.
Bull sharks have been recorded in the Mississippi River, but it has been claimed that a series of dams and locks known as the Illinois Waterway, which connects the Mississippi River with Lake Michigan, should prevent bull sharks from entering Lake Michigan. Furthermore, Lake Michigan bathers shouldn’t be too concerned, because bull sharks prefer warmer waters. From In-Fisherman:
According to the Illinois Department of Conservation, two commercial fishermen from Alton, Herbert Cope and Dudge Collins, caught a bull shark in 1937. They found something troubling their wood and mesh traps late that summer. Concluding that it was a fish, they built a strong wire trap and baited it with chicken guts.
The next morning, they caught a 5-foot 84-pound shark, which they displayed in the Calhoun Fish Market where it attracted crowds for days. Although some folks suspected a hoax, the catch was considered authentic. Biologists later concluded from photos that it was a bull shark. Recently, Clint Smith of Alton supplied an old photo of the catch, with the present-day ADM flourmill in the background.
Bull sharks can live a long time in freshwater. In 1972, one was caught 2,500 miles up the Amazon. The journey from New Orleans to Alton is about 1,750 miles. Dams now prevent sharks from entering Illinois.
More from Wikipedia (with cited sources):
After Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, a large number of bull sharks were sighted in Lake Ponchartrain. Bull sharks have occasionally been seen in the Mississippi River as far north as St. Louis. Even more rare, due to cooler waters, bull sharks have made their way up the Illinois River and into Lake Michigan such as an encounter off the coast of Chicago, Illinois. In that incident the shark was verified by U. of Illinois biologists as being a female 6 feet 9 inches and weighing over 300 lbs.
UPDATE 1 (10 Aug. 09): Bull sharks are not restricted to saltwater. Due to its physiology, the bull shark is highly adaptable to freshwater conditions, so they can tolerate a wide range of salinity. Furthermore, Bull sharks can travel far rather quickly. Consequently, bull sharks have been recorded far into both the Amazon and Mississippi Rivers. However, the Lake Michigan record is questionable.
Although the Global Shark Attack File cites a Lake Michigan bull shark attack, I believe the Lake Michigan record is highly unlikely, since there doesn’t appear to be any news sources, such as the Chicago Tribune, documenting the attack during the 1950s. Apparently, the Global Shark Attack File cites its authority via a book called Man-eating sharks: a terrifying compilation of shark-attacks, shark-facts and shark-legend by Felix Dennis, published in 1976.
As a reader of this blog, if you have further information, then please email me or provide it in the comments. I’ve provided some clippings from the Chicago Tribune that suggest the attack probably didn’t occur. Furthermore, a bull shark was reportedly caught from Lake Michigan at one time, but this was revealed to be a hoax.
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UPDATE 2 (15 Aug. 09): A librarian from South Campus Library at Macomb Community College, in Michigan, very kindly pulled the book that supposedly mentions the Lake Michigan shark attack (emphasis added):
Hi Buck,
Yes, there is a mention of a shark attack in Lake Michigan in the book you cited, [Man-eating sharks, a terrifying compilation of shark-attacks, shark-facts and shark-legend! Edited by Felix Dennis, published in 1976]. However, the book has no in text or parenthetical citations, nor does it have a bibliography. So, no authority for the information is mentioned. Here is the passage in which the attack is discussed:
One of the most astonishing shark attacks on record took place in 1955 when George Lawson a Chicago boy was attacked while taking a swim in Lake Michigan!
Rescuer John Adler who hauled the boy, minus most of his right leg, into a boat, said ‘I just couldn’t believe it, but I had to believe what I saw happening right before my eyes!’ When doctors found the dreadful injuries on Lawson they had no hesitation in proclaiming that it was indeed a shark bite. Others who had witnessed the attack saw the fish heading away back into the deep parts of the lake, its passage marked by…a tell tale dorsal fin.
What kind of shark would travel thousands of miles necessary through fresh water rivers and lakes to get to Lake Michigan?
Well there is one species well known for its aggressiveness and also for its liking of fresh and brackish waters, the infamous Carcharhinus Leucas, (now often called Carcharhinus Springer).
Mary
South Campus Library
Macomb Community College
Wikipedia mentions the attack too, but suggests that the shark was caught and identified. Given what’s in the book, there definitely seems to be conflicting information regarding the bull shark attack from Lake Michigan. From Wikipedia (emphasis added):
Bull sharks have occasionally been seen in the Mississippi River as far north as St. Louis. Even more rare, due to cooler waters, bull sharks have made their way up the Illinois River and into Lake Michigan such as an encounter off the coast of Chicago, Illinois. In that incident the shark was verified by U. of Illinois biologists as being a female 6 feet 9 inches and weighing over 300 lbs.
The mystery continues, because Wikipedia doesn’t provide a reference for this sentence, “In that incident the shark was verified by U. of Illinois biologists as being a female 6 feet 9 inches and weighing over 300 lbs.” For the sentence before, it cites the Global Shark Attack File. I’ll keep updating this blog post as more information is discovered.
UPDATE 3 (15 Sept. 09): Wikipedia “deleted the discredited ‘shark of L. Michigan’ story . . ..” The Global Shark Attack File still reports the attack as:
Shark related news & information on the net:
- Global Shark Attack File
- International Shark Attack File
- Shark Attacks in Perspective
- How, When, & Where Sharks Attack
- The Relative Risk of Shark Attacks to Humans: Compared to Other Risks
- Bull shark information via FishBase.org
- NOAA FISHERIES FACT SHEET: Bull Shark
- The Bull Shark: It lurks in the shallows, even in fresh water. And it loves to kill.
- Rare sighting: Bull shark spotted on Alabama River
- Bull sharks take to Louisiana swamp
- Freshwater Sharks and Rays
- ‘Virgin Birth’ By Shark Confirmed: Second Case Ever
I can see bull sharks in michigan. The food source is there not to mention the sheer size of the small ocean (michigan lake). Plus if the shaks hug the bottom durring winter season the temp would be liveable…..
You spelled shark wrong
You’re an idiot. Who cares if shark was spelled wrong.
You’re both idiots for spelling shark wrong and for caring if someone posted about it.
hahahahaa! wow.. either way its pretty neat that bull sharks can go into fresh water!
should we start a chain reaction cause you care about both the person who spelled it wrong and who posted about it being wrong, And either way the subject is interesting.
right!!!! thank you was thinking the same thing
Why is Wikipedia discounting the clear case of a shark attack in 1955? That’s why wikipedia is problematic. It was documented. Who says Wikipedia knows anything if they can change and alter info down the memory hole whenever they decide it’s not creditable. That shouldn’t be their job nor do they explain what purpose would be served by people in 1955 lying about a boy having his leg bitten off.
I am going on vacation to Poinci Ana Florida.Yesterday my husband watched the news and said there had been 2 shark attacks. Now I know a little about Bull sharks. I also live in Milwaukee Wi.If everyone keeps fishin’ out all of the sharks food they are going to start feeding where fish is most abundent in the rivers. And I also know that when the shark attack happened in Lake Michigan that Bull shark was a big boy! It would be the only way for it to make it that far up the Mississippi and no doubt the1955 shark attack won’t be the last if waters keep rising from flooding and/or melting snow. Facsinating though!!
I agree that Bull Shark populations will never amount to more than the rare sighting this far north. These are cold waters.
You said Michigan Lake , Its Lake Michigan .
seriously.. stop correcting people you moron!
I agree who cares if someone spells something wrong its not like that losers perfect.
Actually both ways of referring to it are correct.
it’s Lake Michigan
all you need to be quiet who cares. im reading this to read about the sharks not you.
Sharks (and other elasmobranchs) can be classified by their tolerance to salinity. Most sharks are ‘obligate marine’ meaning they require a salt water environment to survive. But there are elasmos that are ‘marginal’ in fresh water (usually inshore marine species), ‘brackish marginal’ is more tolerant of low salinity, ‘euryhaline’ is like the bull shark, basically a marine species that is tolerant of fresh water, and last but not least ‘obligate freshwater’ which is relatively rare in the shark world, is more common in rays and skates. I believe the Ganges river shark is obligate freshwater.
So, being that bull sharks are euryhaline, they are able to travel far upriver to birth their young, with less predators than in a marine environment. Bull sharks can reproduce in salt water as well.
As far as the risks of being attacked by a river shark. It depends on the river to some extent. If you find yourself swimming the Mississippi with it’s currents, undertow, huge flotsam and pollution, I would expect shark attack to be low on the list of potential hazards. Lake Michigan? Please. That lake is so deep the water never warms up. You have a better chance of being attacked by the Easter Bunny.
there is no such thing as an easter bunny so you actually have a better chance of getting attacked by a bull shark in lake michigan!!!! I think there ARE bull sharks in lake michigan and NO one, and i mean no one, can prove me wrong
who is to say that their are not bull sharks in the great lakes. no body has explored any of the great lake much. so how would they know. they dont. know what lays under the deep dark waters. jacsaxton
There is documented proof that one bull shark was in that lake at least once. That bull shark attack occurred. The attack happened and it was reported to the International Shark Attack Files; they have the report. Call and ask them, I did. The report is in their files.
It happened. It was a bull shark and the man died. The shark bit off his leg. He died of blood loss, exsanguination, hypovolemia. In other words, he bled out because of the severed artery in his leg. He was not run over by a boat. A fish bit off his limb.
That sensation you’re feeling? It’s called denial.
I think there are bull sharks in lake michigan. I think they can live in fresh water. Doctors who helped George Lawson said it was a shark who took george’s leg. I believe there are and NO one can prove me wrong
Everyone saying the “pet” shark theory seem to be citing misinfo. In 2011 there was flooding all through Illinois. Sharks were found (3) in Minnehaha Creek Minnesota. One in Ohio River and Traverse City. The sharks are adapting to fresh water that’s all. Yes, it’s cold but they have found them. Plus there was info out about a hybrid Shark in the wild with the Bull shark as one of it’s genetic parents. Google it. There may be more sharks than we know. the only way to find out is to catch one!
On May 18th, 2009 Animal Planet’s, “River Monsters,” showed that not only are Bull Sharks surviving, but they are thriving in the world’s fresh water lakes and rivers. An infant shark was captured up river proving that a fresh water breeding colony exists, at least in Australia. This particular river had a dam cutting it off from the ocean, so the little devil didn’t swim up there. The sharks have been known to attack people and horses. A trainer was giving his racehorse a swim when a large shark attempted to have it for lunch, tight there in the river. What disturbs me are the reports from Lake Michigan. Was 1955 a particuarly warm year?
I watched that episode and was fascinated by it. I live in Chicago and I believe that its possible. There is a lot of room for a bull sharks food chain in these waters. Definately do not like the thought but would not put it past them adapting if need be.
I’ve also seen that episode. If people keep on poluting the waters, bull sharks may have no chose but to move farther inland.
What if a global climate change is urging these unique sharks further into freshwater? What freshwater environments could they inhabit? The Missouri? The Colorado? And Jesus!–brush up on your spelling.
who cares if he spells something wrowng! seriosly!
You spelled seriously wrowng.
Thank u I appreciate someone who knows what they are talking about giving us some real info.
In the show River Monsters, they talk of earlier flooding as perhaps the reason they were able to avoid locks. There was huge flooding in Illinois this year from the Mississippi…but in previous years they have caught them too. Ohio River. Traverse city. Both incidents describes as “pets”…yeah right! Yet in Minnehaha Creek Minnesota they found 3 sharks. Wake up. The sharks are adapting to fresh water. It’s not climate change. There is also a hybrid with a bull shark parent that is adapting nicely to fresh water.
I Live by Lake Michigan what worries me is they always say that sharks can adapt to any kind of waters and how long before they adapt tothe cold? Makes me think twice about swimming at night.
night is not the time to worry
night is the best time to worry actually. it’s when thier food is most abundant.
Night time is when sharks mostly feed so I have no idea where you learned that from?
Bulls are found in all waters warm or cold
Thats a bad hat Harry…………..
Bull Sharks actually, feed closer to the shore compared to many sharks. I honestly don’t think you should worry about swimming at night. If there was a bull shark in Lake Michigan (which I live near) it could attact day or night. The problem is… you have about a 1/million, while they are the biggest carnivor sharks, bull sharks are more aggressive. You are less likely to survive a bull shark attack due to the way they attack. A bull shark can’t just take a bit of a piece of meat, They thrash their heads back and forth to rip the piece off. This causes many inturnal injures and lots of blood loss.
and they are repeat attackers, unlike the great white or other sharks that somewhat “realize” if you arent something they normally eat, a bullshark will repeatedly attack without care.
You spelled “internal” wrong.
I live near Muskegon. A couple of years ago some fisherman caught two large piranha in Muskegon lake. There was a picture of one of them in the Muskegon Chronicle Newspaper. They apparently were able to survive the winter due to the warm water discharge from the electricity generating plant located by the lake. Muskegon lake connects to lake Michigan with a decent sized channel. I’m 66 years old and don’t go swimming. Now I do not feel at all comfortable about my children taking my grand children, and my nieces and nephew’s children swimming in any connecting waters to the Great Lakes
He caught two piranha, but he probably caught all two of them. They are schoolers, and they probably never ventured far from the warm discharge of the plant. In South America in the Amazon, Piranha attacks are rare. River Monsters on Animal Planet did a episode on them, informing on a variety of scenarios.
i know someone who caught one in the flat river in grand rapids last year about the size of the top of a 5 gallon bucket. he has it mounted in the kitchen.
Pirannah may be rare in the great lakes and surrounding waters, FOR NOW. After reading several articles and seeing shows, one thing is obvious – to quote from the movie “Jurassic Park” : “Life finds a way.” The word is ADAPTATION – or perhaps even EVOLUTION.
So, once again, lets deal with this tiny, insignificant problem before it becomes a disaster. Wait for cold weather, find places where these little monsters might be living, and get out the poison, or dynamite, or both, before they can make a well adapted, breeding, population.
well quoting you ^ even if you do all those things, life will STILL find a way.
Piranha do live in fresh water… but the only reason they were in the lake was because some stupid person bought them for pets and once they got to big, they threw them in the lake. Thats how non-native speices get introduced.
My coworker caught a piranha a few years ago in glovers lake near
Bear Lake, MI and made the paper. The DNR reported the biggest problem with these showing up in lakes like this are that people buy them in pet stores and when they are tired of them and decide to “dispose” of them its usually in a lake where they dont think they will survive long. The DNR also said that they are very similar to a blue gill fish and they sometimes breed creating a new species fish.
I live in Kenosha and almost never swim in lake Michigan, now I don’t think I’ll let my kids swim in the lake. And is the Wisconsin DNR nuts or what for catching and releasing a female Bull shark in lake Peppin!!! They breed more sharks, I understand the research part of it but this is not a native species so catch and release is not an option for me, safety 1st research 2nd. Better to be bit in the toe by a muskee than to have it bitten off or worse by a Bull shark.
The story about the Lake Pepin shark was an April Fools Hoax. if you Google the original article at the very bottom it even says that. There were never any sharks found there.
http://www.nokomiseast.org/yard/light/creeksharks.html here is the article. at the very bottom in small print they reference the fact that its a hoax.
Why is it a hoax? It seems there is a huge attempt at disinfo out there. There have been sharks caught in Minnehaha Creek. 3 of them. So no Hoax. A man found a small shark in Ohio River and they said it was a “pet”?! Who are they kidding? They are adapting to fresh water simple as that and with all floods in 2011 in the Illinois area when the Mississipi rose, it doesn’t surprise me.
I just watched yesterday a show called River Monsters, I love the show he goes around the world and shows different fish (monsters of sorts) from all sorts of rivers and areas that you never knew existed, some are deadly. Yesterday I watched the freshwater shark episode quite scary. They showed the horse attached part in australia and some others. Basically he confirmed that they are breeding and staying in our river system (obviously top of the food chain). My big beef is the same as Scott’s post from yesterday this guy caught a 3 foot 18mo bullshark which confirmed the breeding, and then he let it go back in water. Hey so it can grow to 8 – 10ft and attack someone??? I don’t get it either, get the darn things out of the water period they are not an endangered species and are not in their element, plus it can cause damage to the river eco systems between that and other non native fish pretty soon there maybe nothing left, and no safe waters anywhere!!!
First of all sharks are not after humans. Second, where the hell do you want these poor sharks to live. In a community where there are no humans. Humans seem to think that they are the only ones that have the right to be on earth. You go into the water, well there is life in there. Deal with it. Don’t for god’s sake go into the jungle either, there may be something that isn’t safe for a human.
I agree.
Alot of times sharks attack due to confusion.
The thrashing sounds of a kid playing in the water may sound like a fish swimming.
Or a surfer, from underneath, looks like a seal (many sharks food sourse).
Sharks are pretty common around most swimming beaches in Florida. For the most part,despite all the thrashing around by kids and swimmers, the sharks leave us alone. Why? Even a child is too big of a prey for most sharks. Adults are definitely too big. I’ve seen 5 or 6 sharks in about 20 trips to the beach this year.
As much as I may agree with you on everything else, I’m not at all happy with the notion of sharks in the great lakes. They don’t belong there. Also,…Bull sharks are different than most sharks. They are the most aggressive. More attacks are committed by bull sharks than of any other shark out there. For them there is not “confusion.” You are food plain and simple.
One of the reasons sharks rarely attack humans is that they prefer smaller prey. Bull sharks are an exception, they routinely attack prey as big or bigger than them (a typical bull shark is about 7 1/2 feet long). They also come in contact with humans more often than most sharks simply because they frequent the same areas as humans, shallow coastal and river waters. Same reasoning as to why there are more auto collisions on a busy thoroughfare than on a rarely traveled road. As far as Lake Michigan being too cold…well, they adapted to be able to spend very long periods of time in fresh water, right? Seems adapting to cooler temperatures would be a much less complicated process.
Just watched River Monsters too, plus saw the episode of Monster Quest on the History Channel where they were looking for Bull Sharks in LA. I’m telling you, in another 20-30 years, we will have sharks fully acclimated to living in the Great Lakes.
Lake Michigan Waters are pretty safe. 1 Bull shark attack over 60 years ago? I have fond memeories of playing on the beach. With all the people fishing no sharks have been captured? Piranhas? Kids are more likely to drown than get bitten or eaten by either species. Buses, driving, going to the store, heck nowadays sending our kids to school is more dangerous. It’s like any other activity be ATTENTIVE to your kids. Know where they are, what they are doing and who they are with especially in public and when swimming at a beach.
I agree that the likelihood of being attacked by a bull shark in Lake Michigan is extremely remote and outweighed by the benefits of some good family fun picnicking along and swimming in Lake Michigan.
However, there are more pressing, real, and immediate threats children (and adults) encounter on a daily basis that some folks don’t consider—the amount of pollution being released into the environment, risks from a poor diet, or even the unsustainable use of natural resources—because what will we leave the coming generations? These are things I worry about.
Some of the replies here about not ever swimming in Lake Michigan again because of Piranhas and Bull Sharks….? It’s pretty ridiculous. The chances of getting attacked are zero.
Ye and your chances of getting struck by lightning are zero also right? There is always a chance!
yea lol fear of getting struck by lightning is a legit fear. ONe of my teachers in high school was struck by lighting on three ocasions. Zero percent chance? i think not
Odds of being hit by lightning are 5 times in a lifetime! Odds of lightning striking distance within 100 yards of you are 500+ times in a lifetime…..Bull Sharks being in Lake Michigan is possible in the right circumstances…..being bite by one…likely 1 person every 70-100 years…They could be out there now…we just dont know…..swim in Lake Michigan…you will be fine…your 100,000,000,000 times likely being struck by lightning, then being bite by a bull shark in lake michigan….but this is very interesting stuff…something i never thought it would happen…..ive heard bull sharks being near st. louis, missouri…but not in lake michigan If they are
Haha, I’ve panicked in the bathtub thinking about a shark attack. I’ve leaped across the room into my bed for fear of the monsters getting me. Probability it could happen? 0% Probability it will continue to freak me out? 100% <=|
All very valid points, especially that for the most part, there are bigger dangers. However, Ammie, until recently Michigan didn’t have a coyote problem either (or lampreys until about fifty years ago.)
They did a breeding and release program in Il and Wi for the coyotes they were here long before any of us and will be here long after
I live in Muskegon and it’s not just coyotes that are new to our area. Black bear and mountain lion have also taken up residence. There’s documented evidence of this. So hey, who says sharks can’t adapt the same way? I just hope that they haven’t and won’t.
Why was the Lake Peppin Bull Shark not mentioned in the show River Monsters? According to them sightings have been only up to St. Louis. I duck hunt there and it’s kinda chilling now to think that a shark was caught there. And what is wrong with WI DNR? Everyday I realize more that this is one crooked state organization.
The Lake Peppin bull shark story appears to be a fake. I’ve updated this post with credible accounts. If any of you find more information please share. Apologies.
Actually, Josh, the DNR is not a crooked state organization. Just not very reliable. If you live in Wisconsin then you must be aware that most people who deal with the DNR translate the initials as “Does Nothing Right.”
you have never heard of the Mich DNR. they are crooked. but i have lived in Mich all my life have never seen a shark only fish dead and alive. the only thing i worry about when i swim in one of the lakes is the fray tors.(mind spelling)
its called “river monsters” not “lake monsters”
I have swam in lake michigan eErie, Superior Ontariofor 50 years ,never ever have i ever run into any thng but a alewife.
We’re scared we are going to get attacked by a bull shark while in Lake Michigan. It’s starting to freak us out! /:
- By the way, Quit fighting over spelling and other stuff. This is not the right place [or] time. We are worried about sharks near us not spelling!
I grew up living along the hudson river in Ny. state. I lived about 60 miles north of Ny. Harbor right on the river. We always had bull sharks in the water there. They fed on the fish and rats at the rivers edge. People would leave garbage along the river bank, attracting the rats and the sharks. We were always reminded in school that there where sharks in the river. Kids and adults would be along the river edge in the shallow water and “bump” a shark. I do not know of anyone ever being bitten, im sure someone has. Sunset and night time were the dangerous times for the sharks. A bull shark is not a discriminate eater, it will eat anything it can get its mouth on! Garbage, rats, fish, people. In freshwater they are as dangerous as they are in the ocean. If its a connecting river to the ocean, and there are no dams or barriers, chances are good that there is, was, or will be a bull shark in the water.
Many thanks AJ for sharing your personal experiences and observations regarding bull sharks in freshwater.
I think bull sharks are amazing creatures.
They have an organ that help controle how much salt they get, hence how they can live in fresh water.
p.s. even fresh water has salt in it.
As regards Bull Sharks: Could we be seeing evolution and adaptation? Could it be that evolution is not always a slow process?
Bullsharks have been doing this for as long as people have noticed them. The infamous Lake Nicaragua shark is just a bull shark. Stingrays and a few other shark relatives do the same thing.
F irst off we are in there enviornment, who are we to say where sharks are suppose to be and where there not suppose to be. When you get into any body of water you are out of your element.. the waters dont belong to us humans or god would have made us fish. We have no right to complain if we are bitten or attacked in any body of water. The waters of the world are hunting and eating grounds for the fish, sharks, whales,ect.ect. Thats where they live so thats where they eat. So remember when we decide to venture out to the water next time think of this as you are entering the feeding grounds of all that lives in the water.With out the residents of the worlds waters we most likely would not survive either. Yes i agree some attacks are horrible…but its the chance you take when you leave your enviornment and enter theirs
I have read every single post prior to my own and have done a good bit of research on the subject of bull sharks. I have come across much information that would suggest that in fact the chances of bull sharks currently existing in a fresh water lake such as Lake Michigan are pretty good actually. Bull sharks prefer to survive in shallow water breeding and reproducing in the shallowest parts of the water they inhabit. Now I understand that dams have been put in place to protect against them making their way too far up river to the lake but lets face it people where there is a will there is most surely always a way. As has been pointed out by several the worlds climate is changing. Every year our winters get warmer and shorter and the waters are getting higher on the planet because our ice caps are melting. This would also mean that areas that were once too cold for certain creatures may no longer be so. Lets also not forget that in fact that bull shark is obviously built being capable of surviving in fresh water. Why then should anyone who knows anything about them be surprised by the possibility that they could possibly be found in Lake Michigan?
I believe entirely that it is possible and because of that think that though people should not entirely expect to encounter a bull shark in the lakes waters they too should not dismiss the possible chance of it either. Rather they should literally tread water with a bit of caution keeping in mind that all the way at he beginning the water to the lake is in fact connected to the ocean where a breed of shark dwells that is capable of making it to and existing in the waters of that lake. If by chance the shark population becomes obvious it will happen suddenly and I am quite sure quite publicly as well. That is not to say however that we should just hold our breaths and wait til someone looses their life. There will be other signs I am sure that the animals have taken up full residence in the lake as there are when say a snake head fish takes up residence in a pond in a small town. Things start to change some. We shouldn’t fear it though and should not worry at all.
To the remark that was made by some to the effect that they can not understand why someone would re-release a shark back into a river because it isn’t its natural habitat I would have to beg to differ. If in fact the shark was small enough to be proven to be born there then in fact it was in its natural habitat just as we are considered to be in our own habitat when we move into a new home and have a baby there. Saying that because you rent your home rather than own it doesn’t make your home any less your habitat. If these animals have adapted to the habitat then there is a reason for it and we humans would do better to not be so ignorant as to tell the universe to stop making changes in something that we don’t like. It isn’t a choice we have. We do not have the right to decide how a species is allowed to adapt. Maybe its their time to do so. Maybe this change has been coming on for them for eons. None of us really knows for sure. It would be the same as me telling you that you need to stop reproducing because your future bloodline do not need to be around when say we have finally reached the ability to beam from earth to another planet in the blink of an eye because your blood line is just not intelligent enough to survive to then. Here is how we humans have made the mistakes that have have caused so many species of animals to become extinct at our hands or are now endangered for the same reason. We are ignorant about what we do not understand and don’t care to learn.
All this said please understand that if in fact bull sharks have made it to a fresh water area and are thriving there it may just be the evolutionary time for this species to change and adapt to survive the changing climate. Every age in history has evolutionary changes so that creatures, even humans, can adapt to survive. Just let it be and learn how to co-exist with them if its the case responsibly so that they and we can live together with as few tragic happenings as possible. That is about all I have to say on this. Hope it helps and sorry it was so long. I love nature and am passionate especially about sharks. They are beautiful and HIGHLY misunderstood creatures. Bye all.
Well put Loretta. I lived in Florida for 15 years as well as California for 4 years. I surfed many many years. I have run over top of all kinds of sharks in shallow waters while standing on my board. I have even felt the fin clip my surfboard fin. I have felt them brush my legs like sand paper, but never been bit. Sharks have always been all around me. I lived in Cocoa Beach FL and have caught hammer heads, nurse, bull, lemon and more sharks on fishing poles right in the same waters with surfers. They are much smarter than people give them credit for. They can possibly attack humans and it happens occasionally, but it’s almost always a simple mistake, except for with Great Whites, they just eat whatever fits in their mouth and there’s nothing we should do about it. I have stepped on more crabs lying in the surf with their pinchers pointing up, brushed many stingrays, been stung by many jelly fish, and have never been bit by a shark. Don’t ever under estimate a shark though. I have caught them and had even held a small 1 foot long baby bonnet head(hammer head) by the tail with two fingers and he could easily snap his body all the way to my hand and rip the skin open with little razor teeth. This did not happen but almost did. They are extremely muscular. Anyways If your truly so scared of them, they sell these personal electrode shark repellent devices that I’ve never used but would be willing to bet they work 100% flawlessly and are safe to both the shark and person. About the bull sharks being in lake Michigan, it’s totally possible, but I’m sure not very many of them. I would not worry. Compared to aerial views of Florida beaches with a shark every 10 feet around swimmers all the time and the amount of attacks it is such a minute percentile. Oh, and, sharks coming into colder fresher waters and surviving is not evolution. Adaptation, yes. That is nothing amazing. Point is live and let live all creatures as much as possible. Sometimes you have to kill to defend yourself, but you don’t have to go killing. That’s my 2 cents.
I just wanted to mention,well what I previously wrote was not aimed at you Loretta. Also, I currently live in Chicago and go to Michigan every weekend during the nice time of year and hang on the beach and swim over head deep for hours on end, and have never had an issue or seen a fin. The biggest problem I ever had swimming in Lake Michigan was cold water sometimes and maybe stepping on a little rock and etting poked in the foot. On the other hand, while in Florida surfing I have seen many a fins around me. Sometimes shark fins noted by the sharp pointy look and usually they hover smoothly through the water breaching the surface like a submarine parascope. Other times dolphin fins around me noted by the swept back rounded fin that breaks the surface momentarily in a curved path as they come up for air. You can also note the sound of them expelling air. When dolphins were schooling around me I always felt extra safe and at ease as well as a symbolizing some good wave sets coming. Sharks do not like dolphins. Figured I’d mention that as well.
A few facts to alleviate worries:
1. Bull sharks can and do live in fresh water indefinitely, but they need water temps at a minimum of roughly 68 F (20 C) to survive long-term. This probably explains why St. Louis is the published northern boundary of the bull shark’s range. Any sharks that venture further north and get trapped behind the locks are probably doomed come winter.
2. Only a small fraction of the water mass at the surface of lake Michigan ever gets this warm, and this is only briefly, in the late summer months.
3. In the winter, the average water temps throughout the water column drops into the 30s. Water reaches maximum density at 39 F, and the surface water in the winter is close to 32, if not frozen. Therefore, the bottom waters are at best as “warm” as 39, and the water gets colder as you move up.
4. While the lock systems of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers do create a navigable (defined as minimum 9′ deep by the Army Corps of Engineers) connection to the lower Mississippi, where bull sharks are common, it’s pretty unlikely that any fish would make it through dozens of locks into lake Michigan in the period of a few months. They would have to hitch a ride with boats/ships as they go through each of the locks, and most fish, including sharks, are afraid of boat motors.
5. There is currently an electric field barrier operating on the Illinois river to prevent exotic species (Asian big head carp in particular) from entering lake Michigan.
6. Global warming will not likely raise the average temp in lake Michigan by more than a few degrees in the worst case.
So, in a nutshell, a bull shark would have to make its way into Lake Michigan during late summer, against great odds, and it would probably not survive the winter.
If you live to be 1,000 and swim in lake Michigan every day, you’ll probably never have the thrill of meeting a shark.
Enjoy the water…
-J
Thanks Jason.
I think the whole shark thing is pretty crazy. Even though it is possible it could happen. You probably have a one in a million chane of getting bitten or even seeing one in Lake Mighigan, because I go swimming in Lake Mighigan almost every week of the summer. I won’t be worrying if I were you.
I have been on in and around the big lake all of my life and it wasn’t until recently I even knew about this phenomenon. Lake Michigan, except in the fall, does not have the congregations of fish that you find in rivers or the ocean. Which leads me to believe a shark would have a hard time foraging for food in the great lakes.
Sharks are one of the oldest species on earth and have been making the trek here for a lot longer than the past 50 or so years. If they found the lake so appealing my charter boat would be much bigger and would sport a half dozen yellow barrels on the foredeck.
I have been fishing in these waters since the first down riggers were invented. I have never known of any one loosing tackle or downrigger hardware to any unknown underwater hazard. Sharks are known to be attracted to noise metal and flashy objects. All of which are prevalent to down rigger fishing.
I think this is another oddity footnote for a very unique body of water.
P.S I would be more afraid of the lamprey, snapping turtles, “they do drift out of the rivers time to time” same goes for some really big rats, and man eating sturgeon. There, now maybe my family and I can have the beach to our selves……..
On the contrary I say , to those who feel we should accept the bite of a shark in fresh water lakes or rivers . If a Pit Bull kills someone , do we allow that act to go unpunished ? No … the animal is destroyed . ( Cross referencing ) , the excuse that the Bull shark is living in it’s environment or has adapted to ours now sounds quite weak . So we should just accept the intrusion of Bull sharks into our fresh water tributaries w/o question or second thought ? You may say that the shark has only one thing on it’s mind ( feeding ) while the Pit Bull does not & to this I will agree w/ you … but , leniency because of adaptation to fresh water tributaries isn’t holding it’s weight w/ me . I call this an intrusive species & feel actions to prevent it from getting further out of hand is the only call to make . Putting this species of shark right in there w/ the likes of Zebra Mussels , Asian Carp , Snake Heads , etc , etc . Look what lax attitudes like yours have caused considering these species ! Also , if you notice your child screaming for their life while being bitten by one of these sharks while swimming in any fresh water lake or river , will you accept it & feel that it is just a natural act of that species of fish which has learned to adapt to fresh water ? I feel these fresh water intruders should be treated as vermin if found in areas that they haven’t previously inhabited . Are the oceans not big enough areas for them to live in ? Let’s hope they don’t adapt further & get to where they no longer need water to breathe … Then walking down the street won’t be safe for us or our children . ( Yes I know ) , but I couldn’t resist the temptation to kick you in the seat of your super relaxed backsides !!!
I believe the difference between a pit-bull killing a human and a shark killing a human is that some dumb human trained the pit-bull to kill a human, thus allowing a smarter human to get rid of the trained to kill animal. So unless some evil person is going around training these sharks to head up to lake Michigan and kill people I think it should be left out of the dumb humans hands…….. P.S. Everyone worried about getting eaten in Lake Michigan, it is much more likely that us dumb humans on Lake Erie will poison the Great Lakes enough for all of us to lose the ability to swim in our waters.
I believe the difference between a pit-bull killing a human and a shark killing a human is that some dumb human trained the pit-bull to kill a human, thus allowing a smarter human to get rid of the trained to kill animal. So unless some evil person is going around training these sharks to head up to lake Michigan and kill people I think it should be left out of the dumb humans hands…….. P.S. Everyone worried about getting eaten in Lake Michigan, it is much more likely that us dumb humans on Lake Erie will poison the Great Lakes enough for all of us to lose the ability to swim in our waters.
Is America not big enough for Americans? Should we start killing everyone that goes to live in Canada or Europe? Is Indiana not big enough for Hoosiers? Should we kill all of those Hoosiers that travel to Florida for vacation? Should someone have killed Lewis & Clarke for exploring new lands? Maybe the sharks are just takin a break from the norm and exploring new waters. Perhaps their ecosystem is being ruined by oil spills, garbage, pollution, humans stealing their food supply, etc and moving to freshwater lakes is a means of survival.It is THEIR territory and they do as they need to survive….whether it be eating humans for food, or attacking them because they are afraid…just like people kill animals for food or react violently when they are threatened…..Have you ever left the town you were born in? If yes, and you believe people shouldn’t be allowed out of their previous habitation then maybe someone should kill you. just sayin….
i agree with u and these sharks wouldn’t want to live up in the great lakes the water is to cold. they need some salt in there water and there’s barely any at all in the great lakes. i live near lake Huron and it’s so cold i barely wanna go in the water so I’m pretty sure that a shark that is use to really warm water wouldn’t want to be living in lake Michigan plus the lakes freeze in the winter they would die off it would be too cold for them. i have seen the river monsters show about fresh water sharks and the shark that was way up like 70 miles it was down in florida the water is still warm get real people its too cold in Michigan.
they have an organ that adjusts the amount of salt in their bodies regardless of the salt content of the water. That is why it is so easy for them to adapt to freshwater. and popular to contrary belief, the lake can be rather warm in shallow areas. I went swimming in chicago in early june when the temp was around 60/65. I ran right in and I was warmer in the water as far out as chest level (that’s as far as i will go because i am not a strong swimmer) than i was in my swimsuit on land, so i don’t think it’s unreasonable to believe a bull shark could live in lake michigan through the summer months.
back to august 7th 09 post #27 from lisa. piranha cross breeding with bluegill, can this really happen? early 90′s baldwin lake, greenville MI. young bluegill 2-5 inches were “nipping” swimmers and leaving an abrasion. is this normal behavior? beyond behavior i don’t remember bluegill having teeth or an abrasive mouth. the fish that hung out by the beach were constantly following swimmers staying 2 or 3 feet away. as soon as you quit moving they’d nail you. at the time greenville had two pet stores, almost right across the street from each other. both selling piranha, gators, snakes and so on, both cutting prices to the point an 11 year old with a paper route could afford to get a couple of “killer fish” that got boring after a couple weeks. i’m sure some of them went inthe lake. we’ve got alot of boneheads around here, 2005 or 06 edmore had a 4ft alligator in the parks pond. i’m not sure how fast gators grow, but i know it was a pet for atleast a few years. again the “owner” probobly lost intrest and didn’t notice an escape route. or worse this person may have released it intentionally. nobody claimed the gator,the guy who caught it sure was proud though. now if we run the same sinario with a shark it would be national news. give me a minuite to explain. if a guy had a truck an aquairium(55gal)or two and knew someone in new york or jersy that had access to bull shark pups (they are only about 2 1/2ft) he could have one at his house in about 15 hours. set up a 10 or 12ft pool in the basement and feed it whatever. they grow about a foot a year. so in 3 years when him and his buddys are recording the highlights of thier fishing trip on lake michigan and he pulls in a bull shark thats almost 6 feet long(that was just tossed overthe other side) he’ll know thats what every abc,cbs,nbc and cnn are going to be running for the next week but if this guy pulled up a broken line, oh boy
wow, all i have to say is this is very intresting!
u have a weird name so i wouldnt be talking!!!
and also i have lived by Lake michigan for about 4 years and been swimmin day and night and ive never had any problems with any of this stuff!!!!
I’ve never actually physically seen a “lake monster” in lake michigan, but at the indiana dunes nature center they have photographs of the ‘monsters’ that live in the deeper areas, and HOLY WOW! you would not believe the gnarly toothed gigantic monsters that call Lake Michigan home. it scared the hell out of me, tho i know the chances of these monsters getting close to shore are slim to none, they are horrible and scary, almost prehistoric looking.
I love swimming in that lake… I want to learn to scuba dive so I can hopefully SEE more than meets the eye… though I’ll probably too scared to ever venture back in… It would be really awesome… possible sharks & ALL!!!!!
That is really scary. We are never going to go swimming in a lake, ocean,or river again. Only pools now.
hi there peoples
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Wow…
There are some hardcore people commenting on this topic!!!! First off, I’ve lived in Chicago my whole life and biggest thing u gotta worry about here is the undertow and E-coli outbreaks…our Great Lakes are like our minds…we only know so much about em…every time u hear about an animal and how “big it can reach,” note that its being based off the last known “capture.” That means there could be somethin a whole lot bigger out there and we just may never know…..
Piranhas will not attack u unless u are wounded or dead…their frenzies are triggered by scent of blood and-or thrashing…
Are there bullsharks in Lake Michigan? Who knows? Its such a vast body of water that well never truly know…I don’t disclaim the possibility of there bein one however…or teo or thirty…there are dams and protective measures taken to prevent an influx of exotic intruders, but keep in mind there are intricate networks of subterranean waterways that may not be visible to the naked eye, and who knows what’s goin on underneath the Earth’s surface!!!! So jump in!!! But be cautious!!!! Lol
Just remember to have you vaccinations upto date… but heck yea…. jump in and have a ball
I think that the bull is treated poorly.It often in saltwatre gets D fined.So i think some bullsharkes live’s in fresh water so thay don’t grt D fined.
Um, I don’t know what the last person was tryin to convey….Defined? Definned? Sorry…I’m clueless here, please help me out!!!!!
i go to lake michigan every year with family and friends… we go tubing, jet skiing, and alotmore we have never heard of sharks or seen them in lake michigan… lake michigan will never have sharks unless it turns into a ocean… i love lake michigan!
you are wrong the bullsharks can live in lake michigan i have seen them in 2008 one sawm by me. i live in michigan all my life. there is fresh water sharks you know you should have laernd that in frist grade.
A female bull shark was found in Lake Pepin, a navigation lake section of the Mississippi River on the border of MN and WI, when divers went under the ice to find a truck that had broken through. Maybe since bull sharks can handle fresh water, they can also handle colder temps.
Bull shark attacks in fresh water are not really as rare as you might think. They have occurred all over the world and they are even discovering that bull sharks can BREED in fresh water! Australia & South Africa have a much higher occurrence then in the US. There have been 3 freshwater attacks in the US and yes one was reported in Lake Michigan. The Bull Shark has been reported up to 2200 miles in land and is responsible for the attacks that inspired the movie Jaws. In fact 2 of those attacks were reported inland! They also have proved to overcome barriers such as dams when flooding has taken place and thrived in their new freshwater homes that they have inhabited for in some cases up to 40 years! The Bull is the most aggressive shark and is responsible for more deaths then any other shark due to its violent shaking of it’s prey once it has it in it’s jaws! Look for more info on an episode of animal planets River Monsters.
You Female Idiot…
You weren’t even alive when they made the “Jaws” movie in 1970′s….Oh God! Where is Dr. Matt Hooper?????? Give us the truth Richard D…
There were a series of shark attacks in New Jersey in 1916 during a 12 day period; it is disputed whether or not it was whites or bulls (also disputed is the number of sharks involved). Three of the attacks, presumably by the same shark, occurred 60 miles inland within 30 minutes of each other. This would indicate a bull shark, but the canal where they occurred is very salty, and a small white could be responsible. The other attacks took place off the coast. While there is no evidence this incident was the inspiration for Benchley’s book “Jaws,” the incident is cited in the film version adapted by Spielberg.
On a side note, before this time, the American people considered sharks to be harmless to humans. The Jersey attacks and the sensational media coverage that ensued resulted in a bipolar effect, and the public became convinced that sharks aggressively hunted humans, a myth that is still popular today (also reinforced by the “Jaws” series).
The Mattawan Creek where Lester Stillwell and Watson Stanley Fisher were killed was tested by THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC and determined to be fresh water. It isn’t likely that the species responsible for the injuries and death was a Great White shark. Great Whites are incapable of entering non-saline water without experiencing death from uremic shock.
It’s more than likely that the culprit was a bull shark although the eyewitness reports indicate that the shark’s behaviour fits the Great White. Bull sharks do not spy-hop, and Great White sharks do.
I have always wondered whether there might have been less rainfall that year. If there had been, there could have been salt water intrusion farther up the creek and the water would have been more saline. This could mean a Great White shark could have penetrated the creek that far upstream in 1916 without uremic shock. This would explain the actions of the shark and the eyewitness reports as well. Alas, we may never know the answers.
What difference does it make whether she was alive or not when JAWS was made? She has proven that she can read and write. None of us were alive in 1916 when the Jersey Shore shark attacks took place. Does that mean none of us are qualified to speculate on which sharks likely attacked then? Fictional Marine Biologists aren’t likely to be of much help.
Perhaps you should stow your own misogynistic attitude. There’s no place for that in science.
well what i have read is quite interesting ill try to follow more but im in class so i have to go…..
it was amazing to read tis dont get me wrong.
you this wrong
I have grown up around Lake Michigan my whole life. I do not believe there are sharks in the waters. I base this opinion on the water temps. In winter the water is too cold to sustain a bull shark. They will die.
Yoo-Per
Not sure they will die. Temperatures down deep may not fluctuate that much. Question is how much oxygen they need/can extract from fresh water and how long they can stay in fresh water. As far as cold goes, there is the antarctic shark that lives thousands of feet deep, has very limited eyesight; moves slowly due to the cold temperatures. Of course that’s saltwater.
I have swam, dived and sailed in Lake Michigan all my life (I’m from Chicago). I must admit; the thought has crossed my mind while bobbing out there in murky water. I reasure myself that it’s not possible. But, I wonder sometimes. Nature has a weird way of adapting. But, I think we would hear about more mysterious swimming deaths if it were true. While diving, the bottom of lake Michigan is like a desert; just a rippled plain sand bottom with the occational old rubber tire and a few small perch; although I know there are good sized Coho salmon out in the deep water. I guess I would really be interested in how long a Bull Shark could live in fresh water, in ideal warm water conditions.
BTW; Dude, spelling is really not the issue here; this is about content. You need to get over it. You seem like a good guy, but you come across as a bit arrogent and condescending. Nobody likes that. So, take my advise and melow out a bit. You’ll do much better.
I have read all of the post and have to say that most of you have “chicken little” syndrome. Dams weren’t placed to prevent sharks from moving up river, they are used for flood control. There have been dead sharks found in almost every state, as a result from fishermen and pet owners discarding them. If any bull sharks made it into the Great Lakes before the building of the dams and locks, there weren’t enough to provide a breeding population and would have dies by now. The only chance for a stray shark would be if a pet owner placed a shark in the Great Lakes. Even then, it’s chances of survival are little to none for only a year or so. You people should do more research into actual rivers where bull sharks are present and look at the lock and dam systems on those rivers. Please research.
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this is terrible
Dams do not prevent sharks from entering because once there is a flood and a huge amount of water goes over the dam then so can the bull sharks. I was watching on the discovery channel monster fish with that crazy guy, I forgot his name. But he was trying to prove that bull sharks can be in rivers because a horse was attacks by a bull shark well the owner believes it was so the crazy guy went to prove it. And it was a river in Australia I believe but there was a dam in place but he found records of a big flood in like the 80′s and records of some kids who caught a 6 foot long female bull shark in like 2000. So he went fishing for a bull shark with some fishermen and no luck, they just caught a huge 500 pound ugly fish but then he tried again by himself and caught a BABY bull shark that was like 6 weeks so you can see they were already reproducing in that river and it was right by loading docks and everything. It was amazing. And there is obviously no way for them to go back to the ocean since there has not been a flood since they cannot get back across that dam.
I believe that bull sharks could easily adapt to Lake Michigan. The lake is warm compared to what it was years ago.
Lake Michigan was icy cold in my childhood in the 60′s. Even in July.
This is where I gotta question the story of the 1955 shark attack. Cause that water REALLY had to be cold.
I wouldn’t doubt that bull sharks could adapt now. Cause the water is like bath water. The water got heated up by this, and that. The sharks could leave in winter. And, isn’t that their pattern to leave after birthing?
I have studied sharks all my life and have a degree in marine biology for starters. I have swam and dived with sharks many, many times. The bull shark is one of these sharks I would avoid and if I ever see one in the water, I get out. I’m not going to pretend I’m Mr. Bravdo when it comes to this species (Carcharhinus leucas).
While anything is possible, I would say the odds of a shark in the Great Lakes are about as well as the odds of Bigfoot existing. No one has any proof. To Travis Stock above, who cannot spell or use grammer, would make me believe you are very young and lying. Again, no proof.
Now unto facts. Even if someone dropped a perfectly live bull shark in the lake or lakes, it would most likely not feed simply because it is a tropical shark and likes temps above roughly 68 degrees. It is also disputed if a bull can survive only in fresh water (land-locked). (I will not dispute the above about catching the sharks in a river that are “dammed” in as I do not know that river, but I would say they have access to the ocean to breed?).
Now we have a warm water shark in a very cold water environment who most likely won’t feed and needs some access to the ocean (for several reasons).
Conclussion – There have never been a shark in the Great Lakes (other then man putting it there, already dead) much less an attack on a human there.
You don’t use grammar properly or spell correctly.
The correct spelling is conclusion.
“There have never been a shark…”. The proper grammar would be: There HAS never been a shark. Does that mean you are young and lying? If you’re going to judge someone on something as trivial as spelling and grammar, please at least check your own first. just sayin…
well… if you ever go swimming in Lake Michigan & get bitten, we’ll all just claim it was a northern just to appease you…. that is, if your “barometer” reads high enough to know what those even are
I would think that evolution could allow bull sharks to adapt to colder waters. I know people here in Michigan that cannot function in temperatures lower than 85, yet they spend the winters here!
A few years ago I was reading posts by people denying that bull sharks could live in fresh water, then denying that they’ve been found in the MS River. Cougars do not live in the Michigan wilderness, or so it has been officially reported for many years until now. The DNR finally admitted that they do after years of sightings.
Do not think that bull sharks living in Lake Michigan is a completely impossible thing. Improbable (for the time being) but very possible. Heck, maybe the bull sharks will eat the Asian carp!
Adapting is something that has been done over and over again, so why could’t these sharks find a way to survive. They have already adapted to both salt and fresh water and are known for swiming farther into the rivers. Like those Paranhas mentioned earlier, they found a way to survive in a lake that was cold because they found a spot near a power plant that warmed up the surrounding water. If those Paranhas found a way why can’t a bull shark?
While there are dams and from the south there are only locks to the north. Now the cold water is something to keep them from being here. There is no way to know for sure. I do however think if there were sharks in lake Michigan they might have been seen and or caught. I do know that stranger things have happened. Also I know of sharks that have been seen and found in Huron and the mackinaw straights all where dead and believed to have been brought in from ships through the locks much like the zebra muscles and lamprey. Again they where not living but it may be possible for bull sharks to be adapting to the lakes. If so really who cares they obviously if they are in the lake they are not attacking humans. I mean one reported case in close to 50 years. I think I will be long dead before we see a large population of sharks in the great lakes. However I really would love to catch one just to enjoy the battle. And yes it would be released back to the lake in hopes someone else would be able to enjoy the thrill of catching a master piece of evolution.
this was an april fools joke i dont know why you believe that
You people will believe anything won’t you? There are no Bull Sharks in Lake Michigan, of that I can guarantee. Bulls are tropical/sub-tropical fish and only venture that far north for short periods of time before heading back to warm waters. Lake Michigan is much too cold and way too difficult to reach.
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I live on Lake Michigan and am in the water almost every day from June until October and I have never even thought about it. No shark attacks have been reported in Lake Michigan, ever. Shark attacks are rare anyhow. Check out the national numbers. Very little shark attacks happen, even in the oceans. Most reports are most likely myth.
No, you really have to watch for fish we KNOW are living in our rivers and lakes here in MI. Fish like the Tiger Muskie… it’s a nasty looking fish with some decent sized teeth that look to be very sharp. Or even the sea lamprey that are pretty abundant in Lake Michigan, they are pretty creepy too. Or for me, just the size of some of the fish we have here is scary, like the Sturgeon, they can reach 8 feet in length and weigh up to 300 pounds! Plus they live a really long time, males can live to be about 55 but females can live as long as 150 years. We also have a variety of fish with teeth that your more likely to encounter than any bull shark (or any other shark for that matter). They include the Bowfin, Muskie, Longnose Gar, Trout, Bass, Pike, and Lake Sturgeon. To me, all of those are way more frightening.
Although there is debate about whether there truly are “freshwater sharks” – it seems pretty obvious some species of sharks are trying to move into the Mississippi and the St. Lawrence. I very much enjoy swimming in the Great Lakes, partly because they are shark free. I don’t want to tell my grandchildren one day that they can’t enjoy this because some idiots saw a problem and did nothing. If we start catching and killing sharks in freshwater, before they adapt any further and start to breed, maybe we can prevent another asian carp, sea lamprey, florida python, ecological disaster that will cost us millions to billions every year forever. If freshwater sharks are high in omega 3, vitamin D, and if shark fin soup from freshwater sharks tastes the same, there is a market.
I’m obviously late in posting here, but just wanted to comment on the “electronic barrier” not stopping the flying carp, or the Bull Shark in the future.
It’s my understanding, that the electronic barrier was installed, but NEVER TURNED ON!!!
From what I’ve read, most recently dating back to late 2008, they wouldn’t permanently activate the barriers due to concern for the safety of passing barges. But according to one article (link following), they are now active. http://www.brandonsun.com/world/breaking-news/army-corps-activates-new-electric-fish-barrier-designed-to-keep-asian-carp-out-of-great-lakes-119438369.html?thx=y
Less than 1 person per year is killed by a shark. In comparison, 100 million sharks are killed every year by humans. You have nothing to worry about…unless you’re a shark.
maybe ‘sharkies revenge’ is coming for us, lol…for real. karma.
ok i am truly terrified now. there are seriously sharks in lake mi? we go swimming there all the time, even way out deep. now you’re telling me that we have to beware of sharks???!!! thanks. im never going in the water EVER AGAIN. im scared to death. how shallow do bull sharks come? if they come shallower than 5 feet, then yeah, you couldn’t pay me to go back into the water! oh and also, the water gets really warm during the summer, so are you telling me that WE COULD HAVE WHOLE BUNCH OF SHARKS????!!!! even though we kill sharks all the time, still doesn’t mean that i will ever go SWIMMING WITH ONE!!! so if this whole thing is real, im going to start FREAKING OUT. IS IT REAL OR NO??? i want a direct “yes” or “no” answer not a “maybe”!
Southern Lake Michigan can actually be quite warm in the summer.
Thank you! i have lived on the southside of the chicago near the southernmost tip of the lake for over 30 years and in the late spring, early summer it is warmer to jump in the water than to lay on the beach. I don’t know what all these people are talking about, saying the lake is soooo cold and all.
REALLY??? News flash folks…. the Mississippi river flows to the ocean, bulls have the ability to adapt to fresh water…. Conveniently, everyone forget when the man disappeared in the chi river, and ppl were reporting dorsal fins around the time. Quit searching Wikipedia for all of your answers;) Anomalies DO occur; NEWS FLASH.
that sucks i live near michagin. the thought of sharks in fresh water scares me and bull sharks being the only ones able to do this are also the most aggresive sharks
bull sharks fresh water bad combo
To the person who initiated this article: you are wrong about the water temp of lake michigan. I have been fishing lake michigan for over 20 years and it is rare for august surface temps to be below 70 degrees. I have been in 200-300 feet plus depths in august/september fishing steelhead and had 75 degree water from the surface down to 75 feet. I think a bull shark could do just fine in 75 degree water.
Thank you! i’ve lived in chicago my whole life and the water is NOT cold by any means in the summer. As early as June the water is warm enough to run right in! i’m sure bull sharks could easily adapt. if they haven’t yet, i could see it happening. I mean, hell, 10 years ago, no one ever could have imagined that scientists would discover that words, radio frequencies, and light frequencies could reprogram DNA. Who is to say that the sharks aren’t having their DNA reprogrammed by all of the radio and light frequencies that are affecting them in their native waters? ANYTHING is possible, truly.
http://www.project.nsearch.com/profiles/blogs/scientist-prove-dna-can-be-reprogrammed-by-words-amp-frequencies
i <3 sharks
A bull shark in lake michigan sounds near to impossible. Bull sharks enter fresh water rivers to give birth to their pups, (unless you count the bull sharks that dwell in the breede river in south africa, who appear to be there to feed, since biologists keep catching some very large males there) and they normally do this in the warmer months. The temperature that far north would be too cold for their pups to survive.
Fascinating! Can’t wait to read more.
Hahaha this is funny… I was just swimming in lake Michigan 2 days ago and was joking with my friend about releasing a baby shark in the water.
I guess the point is, the reason we have alien species in our lakes is from humans putting them there.
Furthermore, instead of worries about sharks in the great lakes, the Asian carp is a real threat, and also the reason the electric fences are used, not for sharks.
Bull sharks live in salt water. Females enter brackish or fresh water river mouths to give birth. We don’t yet know why they sometimes travel up fresh water rivers into lakes. Better food supplies? Travel instinct? Species survival?
Whatever the reason, it’s possible that bull sharks could establish a breeding population in large freshwater lakes inland. Of course, human intervention is capable of wiping them out, we’re good at species extinctions.
George Lawson is the name of the man whose leg was bitten off in 1955 in Lake Michigan. He died from his injuries. One might think the reason it was hushed up and not written up in the newspapers was the publicity would be bad for local businesses. This shark attack has been verified with the International Shark Attack Files in Gainesville, Florida. Sadly, it did indeed happen.
i heave been in lake michigan all my life, and ive seen quite a few sharks. The waters have been getting warmer, so it makes sense. Also, the bull shark doesn;t need salt water. Once, i caught one on my rod. i know they’re out there, ive seen em!
I live in Milwaukee and grew up swimming in Lake Michigan. I’m only 15 and I still enjoy to go swimming, but I have never had a personal experience with a bull shark in the lake. I do believe it is quite possible, due to the vastness of the lake, which can get up to 900 feet deep in some areas, and these are more shallow water oriented creatures. They feed, breed, and reside in waters where there are most likely to be swimmers. As for the person who commented above me^ I don’t really believe that you have seen “quite a few” bull sharks in the lake. My cousin and I have swam out as far as a mile and back and virtually no fish touched us. Plus bull sharks are drawn to noise and disturbances in their living space, such as shallow waters, so if they did live in the lake, and there were as many as you say, odds are there would have been at least one or two attacks in recent years. Just sayin.
Jose, if I may be so bold as to address you by your first name, since it’s been more than 50 years since George Lawson was attacked and killed by the shark in Lake Michigan, it isn’t likely that anyone will have another experience with another bull shark any time soon. Of course, something like that could happen tomorrow. No one knows what’s in the depths of the lake.
Speaking as one diver to another, please continue to enjoy water sports in Lake Michigan. Fatal shark attacks are rare all over the world. There are fewer than 10 each year. You’re in more danger from lightning strikes or bee stings. It’s more harmful to drive to the lake in an automobile: 600,000 people killed every year in car accidents. Why aren’t we terrified by those statistics?
In truth and in fact were I to consider entering Lake Michigan’s waters I’d be more concerned about the coliform bacteria count than the random bull shark attack, but pollution might not frighten you as much as me. Lake Michigan isn’t a spot I’d care to dive, but more power to you. Enjoy.
I grew up just two miles away from the Dunes and Lake Michigan in Indiana.
Many times have I swim in that lake. Which is more of a vast ocean then anything. Beside being so large and full of fish, there are two other reasons that a bull shark could live at such could temp’s. From the Dunes I could always see the factories in Gary, and Whitening. Some of which heavily pollute the lake. And while Lake Michigan is almost frigid, the little outlets that ran into the lake were as hot as a spa. For example there was one outlet that was always a favorite of my siblings and I. It was a little stream that was as hot as a warm bath. Run straight from a factory with the sand dunes on one side and the beach on the other. Before it connected to the lake it was 3 1/2 feet deep. Twenty feet wide, with a rocky bottom and clear water. On the beach side which was 15 feet away from the lake all the died fish would wash up. So died fish near shore with a warm waterway? I never ever saw a shark in Lake Michigan. Don’t think a shark could get in now. But if someone pulled a prank and put one in then I could believe it yes.
we are all cavemen, I am sorry we evolved from the ice age we we changed why can’t sharks.
I beg to differ, but the human phenotype is little different from that which existed during the ice age. Evolution takes place over millions of years. It’s clear you have no idea what you’re talking about, Me. One could take a caveman, shave him, dress him in a suit and be unable to detect the difference between you and he.
Sharks do evolve all the time. There’s a new blacktip shark hybrid off the eastern coast of Australia,* possibly connected with climate change. As global climate change continues, watch what happens.
*http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/01/hybrid-sharks-found-off-australia/
If there really was a shark attack in Lake Michigan in 1955 against a boy named George Lawson, wouldn’t there be an article about it in a Chicago newspaper? Even if there were no newspaper article about it, one could find George Lawson or his living relatives and confirm or repudiate the story. My suspicion is that an error about the validity of the 1955 attack was made. If there were a population of bull sharks in Lake Michigan, there would have been another attack by now.
i dont think a shark whould be in lake michagan inless someone put it in there and it had babbies
Anonymous, this shark attack has been confirmed. It was reported by the doctors who treated the victim to the International Shark Attack Files in Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Believe me or not, I called and inquired whether this was a confirmed attack. I spoke to Mr Burgess and it was verified. The shark removed the man’s leg and he exsanguinated, perishing from blood loss.
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/isaf/isafabout.htm
For all we know there could be a breeding population of bull sharks established in the Great Lakes, marooned there thousands of years ago when the waters receded. Here in Florida we have one of the few populations of freshwater stingrays in the world. They, too, were marooned when the glaciers retreated and they live in freshwater springs here. Over millions of years they adapted from salt water to fresh water. Notice the millions of years it took for the changes to happen.
(BTW, myesh = peridot2, somehow one registration on one board got connected with another, no idea how that happened)
Warm . . . water . . . discharge – the bull shark easy button.
There are many between salt water and the Great Lakes, including in the Great Lakes.
Still not afraid to swim or surf the waters, though.
Wake up people!!!! One thing to say: SIGN OF THE TIMES!!!! The seasons are changing, the waters warming and we are sitting here arguing over SHARKS IN FRESH WATER LAKES THAT ARE OR USE TO BE COLD WATER!!! Come on people, put your fight into something worth fighting for……Your life!!!! GET RIGHT OR GET LEFT!!!!!!
Politics have no place here, Jackie. Troll somewhere else, or grow up.