Dead seals with shark bites found along Cape Cod: ‘Be aware of the sharks’ presence in the shallow waters’

Dead seals with shark bites were found along Cape Cod over the holiday weekend, as the apex predators return to feast on marine mammals.

Great white shark researchers ahead of Memorial Day weekend had reminded people that white sharks were now returning to New England.

Those signs of white shark activity continued over the long weekend when dead seals were spotted.

“Dead seal with shark bites found washed up overnight on (Wellfleet’s) Mayo Beach,” reads the post on the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s Sharktivity app.

“Dead seal. Shark bite marks,” reads another Sharktivity post, with the seal reportedly washing up near Harwich’s Earle Road Beach.

Hundreds of seals have been spotted along Cape beaches in the last week, attracting sharks as they hunt seals and other prey through the summer and into the fall.

“Remember to be aware of the sharks’ presence in the shallow waters, avoid areas where seals or schools of fish are visible, and stay close to shore where emergency responders are available,” the New England Aquarium posted.

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Meanwhile, a leading shark researcher over the holiday weekend received many shark reports that turned out to be basking sharks, instead of great white sharks.

“Both species are here now and are often confused,” posted Massachusetts shark biologist John Chisholm. “Now’s a good time to brush up on ID’s.”

The basking shark is the second largest fish in the ocean, and it’s often mistaken for white sharks given their similar proportions.

White sharks have a pointed dorsal fin, while basking sharks have a rounded fin. Also, white sharks have two-tone coloration, and basking sharks have uniform coloration.

Another main difference is that white sharks have large gill slits, while basking sharks have extra large gill slits.

Those on a Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch recently got a good look at a basking shark off of Provincetown.

“In addition to humpbacks, white-sided dolphins, and minke whales, on this morning’s trip we had another basking shark sighting,” the whale watch posted. “Really cool to see it lift its head out of the water. And if you look closely, you might just spot the lamprey hitching a ride on its dorsal fin.”

Chisholm continues to remind people who see a white shark to report it on the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s Sharktivity app.

A dead seal with shark bites was found washed up on Wellfleet’s Mayo Beach. (Sharktivity photo)

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