Indeed! In fact, 11 species of sharks swim the chilly Salish waters. Spotting a shagreen dorsal fin from shore, ferry or kayak isn’t likely, however. Most of these Puget Sound predators are classified as bottom feeders, living in the murky depths where their favorite food, fish, is in abundance.
What sharks are in Seattle?
The Sixgill Shark is found all over the world including Puget Sound. They have been observed as deep as 6,000 feet but are commonly found around 300 feet. They are a rare sight in Puget Sound, so if you’re diving and you see one, don’t feel scaredfeel lucky!
Do great white sharks live in Seattle?
The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife is warning locals in the coastal town of Ocean Shores, located west of Seattle, that a great white shark is swimming in the area.
Are there sharks in Washington waters?
According to the Shark Foundation, Washington State waters are home to 30 shark species. Most species do not represent a danger to humans and swimmers, although caution is advised when exploring the ocean. Sharks here are classified as primary predators, small, middle-class, gentle giants, and strangely shaped sharks.
Are there big sharks in Puget Sound?
Sixgills are the largest sharks in Puget Sound, growing up to 20 feet long. These active predators spend much of their time in deep water, according to Lowry. The infamous Great White Shark is also known to pass through Washington waters.
Do great white sharks live in Washington?
Great white sharks appear off the Washington coast, as they do elsewhere around the world, Bartlett said. And marine mammals are a staple of their diet. The big sharks usually don’t come close to shore, but this one may have followed a warm current, Bartlett said.
Do great white sharks live in Puget Sound?
The white shark is an occasional visitor to Puget Sound, while the Basking Shark can grow up to 10 meters and feeds on plankton.
Why are there no sharks in Puget Sound?
The risk for shark attacks in Puget Sound is exceedingly low. First, that’s because people don’t swim in the waters as frequently as people do along the Atlantic. Secondly, the most prevalent sharks in Washington are ones that are small and non-threatening.
Can you swim in Puget Sound?
A large number of beaches in the Puget Sound region have high levels of fecal bacteria causing the water to be unsafe for swimming and water contact. Local health departments have issued no-contact advisories for 10 beaches in four counties.
How many sharks are in Puget Sound?
Of the known 400 + species of sharks, approximately 30 species either live or have been seen in the coastal waters of Washington State (most preferring deeper waters), and 11 have been spotted in the Puget Sound!
Is there sharks at Alki Beach?
A family found the shark’s head Saturday near 61st and Beach Drive. Scientists examined the head Monday and determined it belongs to a hammerhead shark.
Are there sharks in the Great Lakes?
Sharks do not live in the Great Lakes, but many fishes are mostly drawn to this water body as their natural habitat.
Are there dolphins in Puget Sound?
Harbor porpoise returned to the Puget Sound around 2000, and sightings of several dolphin species have been increasing since 2010. Sightings of common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins have increased considerably since 2016 and Pacific white-sided dolphins are seen from time to time.
Are there great whites in the Pacific Northwest?
Great white sharks grow up to 20 feet and can weigh almost 4,000 lbs. They are found all along the west coast, typically in water temperatures between 54 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Human encounters: Every recorded encounter with a great white shark in Oregon has been an unprovoked non-lethal attack on a surfer.
Are there bull sharks in Oregon?
HIGHLY unlikely a bull shark would go into the Columbia (or even make it to the Oregon coast). There ARE sharks in Oregon coastal waters that can handle the temp, but I have never heard of a confirmed sighting by a biologist or pro fisherman in any river.
Are there salmon sharks in Puget Sound?
The biggest shark in Puget Sound is the sixgill. These sharks average about 16 feet in length and have plenty of teeth, but they don’t go after humans because they live at great depths. There’s also the salmon shark, a scary-looking but rare local shark that enters the sound only when salmon are running.
Is Puget Sound fresh or saltwater?
All estuaries, including Puget Sound, are par- tially closed-off waterbodies where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean.
Why is Puget Sound famous?
It’s Home to Unique Marine Life
Marine life is abundant in Puget Sound. On the small (animal) end of the scale, it’s home to more than 3,000 types of invertebrates, including clams, oysters, sea urchins, and octopus. On the larger end, 13 types of sea mammals live in the sound.
Are there sharks in the Pacific Northwest?
The Pacific Northwest is home to several smaller species, including the dogfish family of sharks, leopard sharks and sixgill sharks. Off the coast of Washington are larger species, including great white and salmon sharks.
Are there orcas in the Puget Sound?
Orcas, or killer, whales (Orcinus orca) swim in every ocean on Earth. But Puget Sound’s Southern Resident Killer whales have an unusually beloved place in human hearts and culture.
What is at the bottom of Puget Sound?
The bottom of the Sound is made up of a series of valleys and ridges, or sills, which disrupt the movement of water and help it mix. Two of the most important sills are at Admiralty Inlet and the Tacoma Narrows. The second largest estuary in the United States, Puget Sound has 3,790 kilometers of shoreline.