Has there ever been a bull shark in the Illinois River?


Has there ever been a bull shark in the Illinois River? Its range extends as far up the Mississippi River as Alton, Illinois. According to the Illinois Department of Conservation, two commercial fishermen from Alton, Herbert Cope and Dudge Collins, caught a bull shark in 1937.


Are there sharks in the Chicago river?

No shark reports have been scientifically documented in the lake. The Illinois River has seen at least one documented case. Dams now keep any wandering sharks from entering the river.


What rivers have bull sharks been found in?

Unlike most sharks, bull sharks can survive in freshwater for long periods of time. They have even been found in the Mississippi and Amazon Rivers. They prefer shallow coastal water, which means they can often come into contact with humans.


Have the Great Lakes ever had sharks?

While there have been past “sightings,” most have turned out to be pranks or misidentifications. The reality is that the largest of the Great Lakes (Lake Superior and Michigan) are extremely deep lakes that are too cold for sharks.


Do bull sharks go up the Hudson River?

There have been reports of them in the Hudson. From time to time you see seals in the Hudson as well, Brian Kotsol added. Saltwater is not the only turf for a shark.... it's been reported of sharks swimming up to 100 miles up rivers for a long time. Bull sharks have been reported in the past swimming in the Hudson.


Could a bull shark live in the Great Lakes?

But Bull Sharks are able to recycle salt in their kidneys, maintaining salt levels critical to its survival. Yet even the Bull Shark would not be able to make its way into the Great Lakes watershed and survive! The water temperature in the Great Lakes is far too cold for most sharks (including the Bull Shark).