Source: Alexander Safonov / Getty
WASHINGTON — Two hammerhead sharks sightings near Ocean City within a week may have many swimmers on edge, but officials say the sharks are not dangerous.
One hammerhead shark was seen near an Ocean City beach giving birth to pups late Sunday night, and was later found dead on the shore in Delaware. The other was spotted Wednesday afternoon in the ocean swimming near the popular beach.
“On a scale of one to 10, they are not the more ferocious type,” says Ocean City Beach Patrol First Lt. Skip Lee, adding that the shape of the shark’s head makes it difficult for it to pose any threat.
“Great whites, tiger sharks and bull sharks are the ones that we really want to worry about and we don’t typically see those in our area.”
The shark spotted Wednesday does not pose a threat to swimmers or beach goers in the area, Lee says. Still, beach patrol is clearing the area like it would any other item found in the ocean.
Lee says there is a concern for the shark’s welfare.
“We feel as though that something is wrong with the shark. So, we have contacted the National Aquarium in Baltimore. And, of course, we are taking care of things here in Ocean City, making sure the beach is safe but also trying to monitors its progress as it goes about its business.”
Police are reminding people in Ocean City to give the shark some space.
source: WTOP.com
