Category Archives: Massachusetts

Sharks, Seals, and Sea Serpents

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šŸ¦ˆ Cape Codā€™s August Secrets: Sharks, Seals, and Sea Serpents

August on Cape Cod is a paradoxā€”sun-drenched beaches and salt-kissed breezes above, and a world of mystery swirling just beneath the waves. While vacationers flock to the shore for lobster rolls and lighthouses, the Atlantic is busy hosting its own seasonal spectacle. Letā€™s dive into the secrets that stir beneath the surface.

 

Chatham Fish Market Aug 2011- photo credit Deb Neumann

šŸŸ The Real Stars of Summer: Seals and Sharks

Cape Codā€™s seal population booms in late summer, especially around Monomoy Island and Chatham. These sleek swimmers lounge like sunbathers on sandbars, drawing both admiration and attentionā€”from above and below.

Pile of seals

Seals of Monomoy Island photo credit Deb Neumann

Enter the great white sharks.

Extreme close up of Great White Shark looking directly at camera smiling Extreme close up of Great White Shark looking directly at camera smiling young great white shark stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

Photo credit internet

August is peak season for these apex predators, who follow the seal buffet with precision. Thanks to tagging efforts by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, we now know just how active these visitors are. Shark sightings have become so common that beachgoers check tracking apps as often as the weather.

A book about Cape Cod sharks and Greg Skomal's career ...

Dr. Greg Skomel tagging a great white- photo internet

 

But fear notā€”shark safety protocols are strong, and most encounters are nothing more than a fin in the distance.

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Paddleboarder and shark 7/4/25 Cape Cod – photo credit Madeline Cronin

 

Still, thereā€™s something thrilling about knowing youā€™re sharing the sea with legends.

 

šŸŒŠ The Lore Beneath: Sea Serpents and Saltwater Whispers

Long before GPS and GoPros, Cape Codders told tales of serpentine creatures gliding through the fog. From the 1800s onward, reports of undulating beasts off Provincetown and Nantucket stirred imaginations. Some described them as eel-like with horse heads; others swore they saw coils the size of schooners.

Are they misidentified whales? Overzealous oarfish? Or something more cryptic?

A 'sea serpent' is seen lurking off Cape Cod. But some have ...

Meanwhile off Cape Cod

While science leans toward skepticism, the stories persistā€”passed down like seashells from one generation to the next. And isnā€™t that part of the magic? That the sea still holds secrets we havenā€™t quite solved.

šŸš Augustā€™s Invitation

Cape Cod in August is more than a postcardā€”itā€™s a living story. Whether youā€™re scanning the horizon for dorsal fins, watching seals bob like buoys, or wondering what might lurk in the deep, this month invites curiosity.

So pack your binoculars, your sunscreen, and maybe a pinch of imagination. The coast is callingā€”and it has stories to tell.

photo credit Deb Neumann

 

Shark Season on Cape Cod

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šŸ¦ˆ Shark Season on Cape Cod: Staying Shark Smart with Sharktivity

Cape Codā€™s pristine beaches and rich marine life make it a summer havenā€”but beneath the waves, another iconic visitor returns each year: the great white shark. This year the Great Whites have been joined by the relatives, the hammerheads. Its a real family reunion.Ā 

Hammerhead shark Cape Cod sighting ā€“ NBC Boston

NBC Boston photo

Ā As sightings increase along the Massachusetts coastline, locals and tourists alike are turning to technology and science to stay informed and safe.

šŸŒŠ A Surge in Shark Sighting

This summer, shark activity near Cape Cod has been especially lively. From Chatham to Wellfleet, confirmed sightings of great white sharks have occurred just yards from shore. On July 16, a 14-foot white shark was spotted in Cape Cod Bay. Other reports include sharks devouring striped bass near fishing boats and swimming within 50 feet of popular beaches.

Massachusetts beaches shut down after great white shark ...

NBC Boston photo

These sightings arenā€™t random. Cape Codā€™s seal populationā€”prime prey for white sharksā€”has grown significantly, drawing these apex predators closer to shore. While the presence of sharks may sound alarming, itā€™s also a sign of a thriving marine ecosystem.

Pile of seals

Seal colony Cape Cod. Photo credit Deb Neumann

šŸ“± Sharktivity: Your Shark Tracker Companion

To help the public stay informed, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC) developed the Sharktivity app, a free tool available on iOS and Android. The app offers:

  • Real-time alerts for confirmed shark sightings near public beaches (red icon)
  • Interactive maps showing recent and historic shark activity
  • User-submitted sightings with photo verification
  • Tracking of tagged sharks via acoustic and satellite data

Whether you’re planning a beach day or just curious about shark movements, Sharktivity empowers users to make informed decisions and contribute to ongoing research. Download the app here.Ā 

šŸ§  Meet the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy

Founded in 2013, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy is a nonprofit based in Chatham, MA, dedicated to shark research, public safety, and education. Their work includes:

  • Funding scientific studies led by marine biologist Dr. Greg Skomal
  • Operating the Shark Centers Chatham and Provincetown,Ā  interactive museums with exhibits, videos, and educational programs for all ages
  • Hosting lectures, events, and expeditions to deepen public understanding of white sharks

The Conservancyā€™s mission is clear: to foster peaceful coexistence between humans and sharks while promoting conservation of these misunderstood creatures.

 

No photo description available.

Deb Neuman & Greg Skomal 2019

Jaws Turns 50ā€”And Contender Takes the Crown

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šŸ¦ˆ Jaws Turns 50: Meet Contender, the Real-Life Ocean Giant

 

Fifty years ago, Jaws sank its teeth into the public imagination, turning the great white shark into a symbol of fear and fascination. Today, as we celebrate the cinematic legend’s golden anniversary, a new marine marvel is stealing the spotlightā€”not from Hollywood, but from the depths of the Atlantic.

šŸ“£ Enter Contender: The Atlanticā€™s King of Sharks

Earlier this year, a behemoth was tagged off the Florida-Georgia coast thatā€™s making Jaws look almost modest. Named Contender, this great white shark is officially the largest ever tagged in the North Atlantic. Here are the jaw-dropping stats:

  • Length: 13 feet, 9 inches
  • Weight: 1,653 pounds
  • Age: Estimated at 32 years old
  • Tagged: January 17, 2025, roughly 45 miles offshore

North Carolina coast: Great white shark 'Contender' heads to ...

Contender was named by OCEARCH, the marine research group responsible for tagging him, after one of their longtime partnersā€”Contender Boatsā€”whose vessels support these vital expeditions.

šŸ—ŗļø His Journey: From the Deep to Our Doorstep

Since being tagged, Contender has taken quite the tour:

  • He swam south to Vero Beach, Florida, before making a turn north
  • Passed through Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
  • Most recently, he’s been cruising near Nantucket, Massachusetts, between Nantucket Shoals and Georges Bank

Contender: Largest Known Male Great White Shark in the North ...

Contenderā€™s movements are tracked via a SPOT tag, a high-tech device that sends a signal every time his dorsal fin breaches the surface, letting researchers and enthusiasts follow his oceanic adventure in real time.

šŸ”¬ Beyond the Bite: The Science Behind the Tag

OCEARCH scientists arenā€™t just tracking Contender for thrills. Theyā€™re collecting data to unlock secrets about:

  • Shark migration patterns
  • Breeding behaviors and reproductive health
  • Long-term oceanic ecosystem impacts

Contenderā€™s tag is expected to deliver insights for five years, offering a rare peek into the life of one of the oceanā€™s most elusive and majestic creatures.

Record-Breaking Great White Shark Found Off Florida Coast ...

šŸŽ„ From Fiction to Fact

The film Jaws was inspired by real sightings and fears, but the anniversary serves as a perfect moment to shift from fear to fascination.Ā  Sharks like Contender remind us that the ocean isnā€™t just home to legendsā€”itā€™s home to living marvels that deserve our awe, curiosity, and protection.

Curious to see where Contender swims next? Track him live on the OCEARCH Shark Tracker.

Happy 4th!

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Happy 4th of July

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Stay Safe Out There!

 

*New England 4th of July events calendar

Monsterland Massachusetts

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Monsterland!

Did you know there is a place called Monsterland in Massachusetts? It’s located in Leominster, MA in the state forest. Here you can look for Bigfoot and other strange activity.Ā  Legend has it that the activity goes back to the 1800’s. Leominster is not alone with a reputation for strangeĀ happenings. We’ve also got the Bridgewater Triangle and New Hampshire has the Betty and Barney Hill Alien abduction.Ā 

Sasquatch Sighting bigfoot stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

Bigfoot in the forest- Internet

Ronny LeBlanc

Ronny LeBlanc is a Native of Leominster who has made it to the little screen in the Travel Channels’ series “Expedition Bigfoot.”Ā  LeBlanc tells of an experience in Leominster state forest when he was a boy that has impacted his whole life. He was 11 years old when he experienced his first Bigfoot.

“Within seconds the forest erupted in front of me. Trees and shrubs were moving. I started to feel these reverberations in the soles of my feet of something walking.”

“The experience of seeing that impression in the ground, six footprints. Something I’ve seen in a lot of books of the pacific northwest and here we are in Massachusetts.”
spuren im watt

Stock photo

Bigfoot In the Berkshires

In the 1980’sĀ  4 friends were having a cook out on the shore of Lake Felton near the small town of Washington, MA.Ā  Apparently their BBQ had attracted something large. They could hear trees moving and branches snapping. When 2 of the friends decided to investigate.Ā  ā€œIt stood on two legs, silhouetted on the trail in the moonlight, and it was huge.ā€ One of the friendsĀ  told the Berkshire EagleĀ a few days later,Ā ā€œI donā€™t scare easily, but it scared me.ā€Ā 

The Whitehall Bigfoot

But Western Massachusetts isn’t the only Bigfoot Hotspot.Ā  For years there have been reports of Bigfoot in Whitehall NY. Whitehall isn’t that far from the Western MA border so some speculateĀ that the Bigfoots have a migration trail that runs through Whitehall, NY and into Massachusetts.Ā  I’m feeling kind of left out. I grew up very close to Whitehall in the Adirondacks and now I live in Massachusetts but I’ve never run into one of the hairy monsters myself. But then again, I am not sure I want to.Ā