Four thresher sharks found frozen off coast of Cape Cod
Four thresher sharks have been found frozen off the coast of Cape Cod recently, officials say.
The fourth shark carcass was discovered New Year's Eve in an ice pack near Wellfleet, Atlantic White Shark Conservancy Program Director Michelle Wcisel tells the Cape Cod Times.
Three other sharks washed ashore last week, and authorities believe all the sharks succumbed to cold shock. Cape Cod Bay's surface temperature sank to 41 degrees last week.
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The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy posted photos of the first three sharks on its Facebook page.
"We hauled the shark off the beach and it is currently thawing at NOAA Fisheries Service to be dissected later. A true sharkcicle!" the group wrote about one of the sharks.
Scientists believe thresher sharks are impaired when exposed to waters below 44 degrees.
"The headline that it's so cold that sharks are freezing to death has really taken off," Wcisel told the Cape Cod Times.
She told the newspaper that it would not be wise for people to try to find more sharks due to the ice.
"It’s dangerous, really dodgy," she told the newspaper. "We really don’t want people to try and go out there."
With News Wire Services
