Shark Found in Idaho Causes Panic
Idaho Residents Alarmed as Shark Found in Landlocked State
Idaho residents have been on edge after a shocking discovery in their inland waterways – a shark. Wildlife officials in the Gem State are now offering a theory that might explain how this predatory fish ended up in Idaho.
The shark was found washed up on the banks of the Salmon River near Riggens on August 15th. Concerned citizens quickly flooded Idaho Fish and Game with calls and emails, reporting this bizarre find, as stated in an August 16th news release.
Agents from the wildlife agency were dispatched to investigate and discovered what appeared to be a deceased salmon shark.
“By the look of it, this does appear to be a salmon shark,”
Joe DuPont, Idaho Fish and Game’s Clearwater region fisheries manager, said in the release. “Salmon sharks can grow up to 10-feet long and weigh up to almost 1,000 lbs. As indicated by its name, salmon sharks like to feed on salmon.”
This poses an immediate problem for Idaho sportsmen, as salmon are a critically important fish for anglers. According to a 2019 report by the American Sportfishing Association, fishermen generated an economic impact of over $1 billion in the state in just one year.
Introducing a new predator like the salmon shark would undoubtedly impact the natural resource and Idaho’s bottom line.
“Seeing no sharks have been observed swimming up our fish ladders lately, and the only known shark that can live in freshwater is the Bull Shark, I think it is safe to assume that somebody dropped this on the shore for a good laugh,”
DuPont explained in the notice. “So, if you were one of those people who saw this fish on the shore or maybe somebody shared the photos with you, rest assured, we have no sharks swimming around in Idaho.”
Idaho Fish and Game uploaded two photos of the shark, allowing the public to judge for themselves.
The second photo provides a better view of the shark. From a top-down perspective, the iconic profile of this oceanic predator becomes immediately apparent.
The fact that the shark was found dead is the first clue to this mystery. The Salmon River, being a freshwater waterway, cannot support a seafaring shark like this one. While bull sharks can travel upstream from saltwater, the fish found in Idaho was not of the same species.
Thankfully, all signs point to this simply being the work of a dedicated prankster.
The post Panic After Salmon-Eating Shark Found in Landlocked Idaho appeared first on The Western Journal.
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