Hammerhead shark found dead on Carolina Beach
WILMINGTON, N.C. —
Beachgoers at the north end of Carolina Beach, N.C., were shocked Sunday afternoon to find a massive scalloped hammerhead shark dead on the sand.
Due to the shark’s massive size, emergency crews from Ocean Rescue, the Carolina Beach Fire Department, and the police department worked together to bring the animal fully onto the shore. Experts confirmed the shark was already dead when it was retrieved.
At 14 feet long, the female scalloped hammerhead was extremely large. Members of the North Carolina Shark Conservancy quickly began collecting vital measurements and tissue samples.
“We had some volunteers come out and did a workup, took some basic measurements, and then tissue samples,” said Taylor Evans, CEO of the North Carolina Shark Conservancy.
While the exact cause of death is still unknown, researchers noted evidence of fishing interaction, including a deep cut at the base of the shark’s tail fin and a puncture mark near its jaw.
“There was some evidence of fishing interaction, but we can’t for sure say that was the cause of it,” Evans said.
Local officials later removed the shark’s body from the sand for proper disposal.