Has There Ever Been a Shark in Any of the Great Lakes?

June 20, 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the release of the movie Jaws.

I know! FIFTY years ago already! Hard to believe, and people are still skittish about swimming...even in our Great Lakes, for fear of a shark – or some other type of large creature – swallowing them whole.

So, the question: have sharks actually found their way into the Great Lakes from the ocean? There are always rumors, or some other “eyewitness testimonies,” that have been debunked...but then again the possibility of this actually happening is a reality.

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The possibility, yes. The probability, no.

What Kind of Shark Could Get Into the Great Lakes?

The breed of shark that fits that possibility is the bull shark.
According to Amber Peters of MSU’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, “It couldn’t really deal with the winter temperatures, or the lack of food, but it’s possible that if one swam in it could live for a while.”

National Geographic says bull sharks have been seen as close by as Illinois, coming up the Mississippi River. There was also a dead bull shark found on the shore of Lake Michigan, although there is no official report. Does that mean someone planted it there as a hoax?

Is There a Documented Case of a Shark Coming Into North America?

There is one case that has been documented concerning the Illinois River.....now there are dams that were placed in order to keep sharks from entering.

Again, despite the slim possibilities, sharks are not expected to chew you up on any Michigan beaches this year. The underwater creature you should REALLY watch out for are those giant snapping turtles. We definitely have ‘em and they will not let go of you once they clamp down.

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