There are few things more unnerving than feeling something cold brush against your leg as you’re wading into the sea. While the source of the sensation normally ends up being seaweed or a small fish, in this small Cape Cod town, it might be something else.
Chatham, Massachusetts is the only place on the east coast where you’ll find a large summer population of great white sharks, and experts say it’s only a matter of time before there’s blood in the water.
A scientist out on a research boat tagged five great white sharks off the coast of Chatham. That may not seem like much, but it signaled the return deadly predator to Cape Cod waters after an absence of centuries.
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Almost overnight, Chatham became known as "Shark City."
After that initial sighting, it was clear that the shark population was here to stay. They’ve been coming back each summer since 2009, and their numbers keep climbing.
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Last year, over 140 great white sharks were tagged in the waters of Chatham.
Most experts believe it’s related to the large number of seals that congregate on Chatham beaches and just off its coast. However, no one really knows. Great whites are still not fully understood.
There is one thing that marine biologists do agree on: a fatal attack is just a matter of time.
Chatham beaches have extremely shallow water near the shore, which make them attractive to swimmers and seals. However, this also means that sharks navigate very close to shore to reach their dinner, sometimes coming as close as 300 feet from land.
Experts think that the first fatal attack will probably be on a surfer.
Many surfers paddle out near seal colonies, mistakenly believing that the animals will act as a warning system and scatter if a shark is nearby. But marine biologists say swimming near a seal colony is actually the most dangerous place to be.
When news of the situation began to spread, something else began to invade this coastal town: shark tourists.
People began showing up by the busload to scour the water with binoculars. Some would ask around for the best places to spot them, and local authorities have had a tough time keeping everyone safe and happy. While tourists themselves were nothing new to Chatham, this kind of frenzied attention over a dangerous animal has left some residents puzzled. Not everyone wants to their hometown to be known as "Shark City."
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Since the invasion, Chatham has started to embrace its newfound identity.
You can buy shark-themed souvenirs and plush toys in the shops and the local movie theater shows Jaws every weekend. The new Chatham high school even has a shark as its mascot.
If you do decide to take a dip in Chatham, you’ll likely be just fine. There are posted warnings and informational signs on the beach about the shark presence and the beaches are still popular. However, it’s best to stay alert and keep away from any seal groups. There’s definitely something in the water.
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