A Seal Attack Raises Shark Awareness Along Massachusetts Beaches

Living in Massachusetts has its advantages.

It also has its negative side, and we must bite the bullet and deal with it.

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Personally, the only issue I have living in Massachusetts is the constant climate change between seasons. When the weather gets warmer, it attracts unwelcome critters to deal with.

There's nothing that can be done about it. I've been told many times about a DEADLY creature that hangs out in the southeastern part of Massachusetts in Cape Cod. The good news is that the deadly creature only lives in the ocean, so if you're on land, you are entirely safe.

According to WWLP 22 News, a person on the far western end of Nantucket spotted a pool of blood in the water near Smith’s Point. Upon closer inspection, they saw a seal swimming toward the beach with a shark pursuing it. Shark expert John Chisholm, an adjunct scientist at the New England Aquarium, confirmed that the seal, which has now been found dead, had bite wounds consistent with a shark attack.

While sharks don't hunt humans despite their sharp JAWS, it's been mentioned that unprovoked shark bites occur at an extremely low instance rate. But, it's always a good idea to take these precautions when swimming in Cape Cod waters:

• Be aware that sharks hunt for seals in shallow water.
• Stay close to shore where rescuers can reach you.
• Swim, paddle, kayak, and surf in groups – don’t isolate yourself.
• Avoid areas where seals are present.
• Avoid areas where schools of fish are visible.
• Avoid murky or low-visibility water.
• Limit splashing.

Great White Sharks are often seen from June to October. I've seen Whales and Dolphins in the ocean, but I've only seen small sharks at the aquarium. I don't know how I would feel about seeing a giant Great White in person.

Beachgoers are encouraged to download the "Sharktivity" app, which raises awareness about the healthy coexistence of sharks and people.