The Strangest Thing To Ever Wash Ashore In North Carolina

Strange object wash ashore every day, from a tethered item that seems to belong to on a boat, to a soggy bag of chips, to even a strange looking fish or two. But hurricanes, strong winds, and capsized ships can bring all sorts of strangeness to local beaches. One such object to wash ashore in North Carolina is considered nightmare inducing for some.

Flickr / traxus4420

It was just another normal day at the beach for Danny Bland as he strolled the shore of North Topsail. He thought he would mainly find a seashell or two, maybe even a shark tooth, but what he stumbled upon was equal parts unknown and terrifying.

Flickr / Melody McClure

It was around the size of his palm and looked like something that had come right from a sea monster from a movie, but it was real.

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He had found a tooth belonging to a Megalodon, a giant, shark-like creature estimated to be around 60 feet in length.

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Megalodons roamed the waters some 5-15 million years ago. Research says their extinction spurred the growth of their smaller counterpart, the whale. While Megalodons are a distant memory of the past, their fossils, particularly their teeth, are still found today.

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Just last week, after Hurricane Matthew, a Virginia couple found a Megalodon tooth on the shore of Myrtle Beach. This was almost a year after Danny Bland's discovery, which was attributed to Hurricane Joaquin. Today, you can find Megalodon teeth for sale online for upwards of $300.

You never know what might wash ashore, including an ancient fossil that might as well belong to a sea monster! On a lighter note, in 2006, a ship heading to Central America spilled a container of Doritos and they washed ashore in North Carolina. Airtight and still fresh, once word got out, herds of people came to snag a bag or two. A bit more relaxed than a megalodon tooth if I say so myself.

What would you do if you stumbled upon a giant fossil on the beach? Have you ever found anything truly strange that had washed ashore?

In North Carolina, it’s not just the beach that experiences strange items washing ashore, but the ocean can get extra weird as well with neon, glowing waves. Read about it here.