by 4 people |
Does A Unknown Shark Species Live In The Red River of North Dakota?
The photo below is of a shark-like fish in the early spring of 2006. According to my research, this should be impossible, but clearly you can see a large fish around 6-8 feet long, with a large dorsal fin and tail fin like that of a shark.
This "River Beast" thrashed about in some shallow water near the submerged bridge, then ventured into deeper water in the middle of the channel.
I would have not believed this were some kind of shark until I was able to find more evidence that a fresh water shark(s) may in fact live and perhaps thrive in the fresh water of the Red River.
My hypothesis is that somehow, a small population of shark either became locked into the Red River in the past, or that this is not a shark at all but a previously unidentified fish. Although I have encountered some large cat fish before, the characteristics of this fish strongly resemble that of a shark.
The Red River of North Dakota stretches from Canada to West Central Minnesota. The Red River is unique in that it flows NORTH, into Lake Winnipeg. Since the first photo was taken in early spring, could this species have gone upstream, or south, to reproduce? I don't know.
Thanks for visiting, make your own conclusions or contact me if you have any hard evidence regarding this "River Beast".
This "River Beast" thrashed about in some shallow water near the submerged bridge, then ventured into deeper water in the middle of the channel.
I would have not believed this were some kind of shark until I was able to find more evidence that a fresh water shark(s) may in fact live and perhaps thrive in the fresh water of the Red River.
My hypothesis is that somehow, a small population of shark either became locked into the Red River in the past, or that this is not a shark at all but a previously unidentified fish. Although I have encountered some large cat fish before, the characteristics of this fish strongly resemble that of a shark.
The Red River of North Dakota stretches from Canada to West Central Minnesota. The Red River is unique in that it flows NORTH, into Lake Winnipeg. Since the first photo was taken in early spring, could this species have gone upstream, or south, to reproduce? I don't know.
Thanks for visiting, make your own conclusions or contact me if you have any hard evidence regarding this "River Beast".
New Table of Contents
A Snapshot Of A Northern, Fresh Water River Shark
More Evidence of Fresh Wahter Sharks In North Dakota
After the first photo was taken, I decided to start an effort of investigation. If it was indeed a shark, just how could such an animal survive, and just how did it arrive? Were there more? If they were sharks, are they dangerous?
My investigation began by trying to talk to experts. I was laughed at and dismissed immediately.
That was, until I was able to take the next photo about 3 months later. As you can see, this "River Beast" looks very much like a smaller shark, perhaps 3-4 feet in length.
My investigation began by trying to talk to experts. I was laughed at and dismissed immediately.
That was, until I was able to take the next photo about 3 months later. As you can see, this "River Beast" looks very much like a smaller shark, perhaps 3-4 feet in length.
More Evidence of Fresh Water Sharks in North Dakota
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- Tipi Tipi Aug 31, 2009 @ 12:21 pm
- Dave, thank you for sharing this lens, this is awesome about the Red River Beast. I never knew, but seeing is believing. I'm going to get this featured on a couple of my Fargo lenses.
Wishing you all the best!
Susie
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- dangman dangman Aug 11, 2009 @ 9:21 pm
- Neat photos. Bull Sharks are known to come up rivers and I've read of them found in Michigan and Illinois waters. The American paddlefish can get relatively large and has an archaic shark-like look to its body and tail, but the second pic definitely resembles the Bull.
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- force7812004 force7812004 Aug 2, 2009 @ 10:31 pm
- if there is a shark in the missouri, it could not be anything other than a bull shark. sharks can spend an extremely short amount of time in a river depending on the salt content of the water, but for something to be in the missouri and living there, there is no other species it could be. i would have to see more evidence, though.
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- pat pat Jun 23, 2009 @ 10:32 pm
- ohhhhhh my goddddd.... i'm moving!
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- sd girl sd girl Jun 10, 2009 @ 11:53 am
- i was about 12 yrs old and was swimming with my mom north of chamberlain sd I looked out and said mom it's a shark, she made it to shore and i made it to a log I was playing by, the large top fin got to my log and disappeared. My mother denies this ever happened because she claims there are no sharks in the missouri river, but I will never forget that large gray fin coming towards me. she has never went swimming again.
[in reply to jared]
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- jared jared Aug 2, 2008 @ 5:55 pm
- It is most defiantly a bull shark, they live in fresh water 2000 miles up the amazon, in new jersey, 1000miles up the Mississippi....so yeah its not a new species. They have an adaptation in there gills that lets them live in freshwater, and some would say "what about the fresh water on its skin"? that an other adaptation. Not putting you down, just saying...it probably came in during a flood from the Missouri river, to to its proximity...hope this helps!!!
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- Mortis Mortis Jul 29, 2008 @ 11:39 am
- You have to fork over a bit more info for me to begin to bite the hook. Location and phot duplication of said first photo. More details.
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- Matias Matias Jun 28, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
- cest la vie, i believe, that some black wheel in fellow christ lover becomes me when im a white man, cause icanbelieve this is going to happen tomorrow yo ser tu hijo mas tu no saber, lo que sucedera.
Oye pues, nocreo quemellevesa casa,
paranoid_vamps@hotmail.com
contact me for a blowjob
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- Evelyn_Saenz Evelyn_Saenz Mar 26, 2008 @ 1:03 pm
- The Bluebird of Happiness loved your lens so much that she is sending you a virtual Heart Shaped Waffle and a cup of coffee to hang on your wall.
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- legbamel legbamel Mar 16, 2008 @ 1:18 pm
- Please, add more information. Where were those pictures taken? If that's Fargo, I'm going to have to make doubly sure that my kids know to keep out of the water! ;)
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