Shark Season on Cape Cod

Posted on August 1, 2025August 1, 2025 by Dusty Roads | 2 Comments

🦈 Shark Season on Cape Cod: Staying Shark Smart with Sharktivity

Cape Cod’s pristine beaches and rich marine life make it a summer haven—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.

Hammerhead shark Cape Cod sighting – NBC Boston

NBC Boston photo

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

🌊 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 aren’t random. Cape Cod’s seal population—prime prey for white sharks—has grown significantly, drawing these apex predators closer to shore. While the presence of sharks may sound alarming, it’s also a sign of a thriving marine ecosystem.

Seal colony Cape Cod. Photo credit Deb Neumann

📱 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.

🧠 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, interactive museums with exhibits, videos, and educational programs for all ages
Hosting lectures, events, and expeditions to deepen public understanding of white sharks

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

Deb Neuman & Greg Skomal 2019

Jaws Turns 50—And Contender Takes the Crown

Posted on July 24, 2025July 24, 2025 by Dusty Roads

🦈 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 spotlight—not from Hollywood, but from the depths of the Atlantic.

📣 Enter Contender: The Atlantic’s King of Sharks

Earlier this year, a behemoth was tagged off the Florida-Georgia coast that’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 partners—Contender Boats—whose vessels support these vital expeditions.

🗺️ 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 ...

Contender’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.

🔬 Beyond the Bite: The Science Behind the Tag

OCEARCH scientists aren’t just tracking Contender for thrills. They’re collecting data to unlock secrets about:

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

Contender’s tag is expected to deliver insights for five years, offering a rare peek into the life of one of the ocean’s most elusive and majestic creatures.

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

🎥 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. Sharks like Contender remind us that the ocean isn’t just home to legends—it’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!

Posted on July 4, 2025July 4, 2025 by Dusty Roads | 2 Comments

Happy 4th of July

Stay Safe Out There!

*New England 4th of July events calendar

Monsterland Massachusetts

Posted on April 1, 2023March 31, 2023 by Dusty Roads | 2 Comments

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. Legend has it that the activity goes back to the 1800’s. Leominster is not alone with a reputation for strange happenings. We’ve also got the Bridgewater Triangle and New Hampshire has the Betty and Barney Hill Alien abduction.

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.” 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.”

Stock photo

Bigfoot In the Berkshires

In the 1980’s 4 friends were having a cook out on the shore of Lake Felton near the small town of Washington, MA. Apparently their BBQ had attracted something large. They could hear trees moving and branches snapping. When 2 of the friends decided to investigate. “It stood on two legs, silhouetted on the trail in the moonlight, and it was huge.” One of the friends told the Berkshire Eagle a few days later, “I don’t scare easily, but it scared me.”

The Whitehall Bigfoot

But Western Massachusetts isn’t the only Bigfoot Hotspot. For years there have been reports of Bigfoot in Whitehall NY. Whitehall isn’t that far from the Western MA border so some speculate that the Bigfoots have a migration trail that runs through Whitehall, NY and into Massachusetts. 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.

Natural Wonders of the USA Part 3

Posted on December 10, 2022December 10, 2022 by Dusty Roads

Natural Wonders

Lets continue down the list of the wonders in each state. I hope you are finding this as interesting as I am. Maybe you’ll be inspired to check some of these out.

9. Tennessee – Ruby Falls

I’ve been to Tennessee. Best Bar B Que I’ve ever tasted. It ruined me for our local stuff! Plus I saw so much wildlife on that trip. But I didn’t see the Natural wonder for Tennessee. That is Ruby Falls.

Ruby Falls, Copied from Internet

Ruby Falls is different. You won’t find it off a trail or roadside. No, Ruby Falls is an underground cascade that follows a series of falls down 145 ft. The underground cavern is located in Lookout Mountain. Lookout Mountain is located minutes from downtown Chattanooga and would certainly be an extraordinary experience.

10. Massachusetts – Chesterfield Gorge

Massachusetts, my home state. I’m ashamed to say that I have never heard of our Natural Wonder. It’s called Chesterfield Gorge and if our weather ever clears up I’ll definitely take a trip to see it.

File:Chesterfield Gorge, West Chesterfield MA.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

The gorge features deep walls that rise up to 30 feet high. The cliff edges do not feature any trails that go to the bottom but you can travel along the cliff top, which offers a terrific view of the gorge as well as the river and surrounding forest.

11. Arizona – Antelope Canyon

Every photographer has heard of Antelope Canyon, Arizona. I’ve dreamed of photographing it for years. I’ve been to Arizona several times. I usually stay in Sedona, the beautiful Red Rock country. It’s hard to believe that the Grand Canyon wasn’t Arizona’s number one Natural wonder but I can truly see Antelope Canyon too

Grand Canyon AZ- 2011 Photo credit Deb Neumann

Antelope Canyon- From internet

Antelope Canyon is spectacular especially when you have the right light. The best time to view the canyon is in the summer. Prone to flash flooding, you’ll want to avoid it during the monsoon season.

12. Washington State- Ho Rainforest

Washington is another state that I’ve checked off as visited. I went to Seattle where I rode to the top of the Space Needle and visited the Chihuly Glass Museum. Not Natural Wonders but certainly beautiful.

Seattle Harbor – 2013 Photo credit Deb Neumann

Washington State is located in the Northeastern part of the USA that is considered rainforest. Located in Olympic National Park is an old growth forest that can get as much as 14 feet of precipitation a year! That certainly qualifies the area as rainforest!

Hoh Rainforest, the most famous rainforest in the lower 48 states, has recently gained attention as perhaps “the quietest place in the U.S.”—the perfect remedy to noisy modern life.

I’ve not been to the Ho (Hoh) rainforest but I did experience the rainforest on my trip to Alaska. I believe that was the Tongass National Forest. Amazing places. wet and lush. And yes, quiet. All that moss and soft earth seems to absorb sound.

Next Time on Natural Wonders

We’ll explore 3-4 more natural wonders in my next post in this series. I hope you join in. Have you been to or heard of any of the places we’ve mentioned? Please share your experience in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.

Category Archives: Massachusetts

Shark Season on Cape Cod