If you think of a great white shark swimming into a pond, you might picture a movie scene, right? But this actually happened in 2004, and I was right in the middle of it.
I had never seen a great white shark in New England, so getting a call about a massive female shark in a small saltwater pond in Massachusetts was shocking. We named her Gretel. This was a unique chance to learn more about these creatures, so I used a sling spear to attach a satellite tag to her—a first for an Atlantic white shark. But Gretel didn’t leave the pond.
Over the next two weeks, we tried everything to help her get back to the ocean. News about her spread quickly, attracting many curious onlookers. Some even attempted to kayak closer, which raised safety concerns for both them and Gretel, leading us to close off the area.
To encourage her to leave, we tried to engage her senses. We attempted to lure her with food but had no luck. From there, we tried noise, creating underwater dust clouds, and even electrical fields. Nothing worked. After days of waiting, we realized we’d need to get a little forceful. We teamed up with local fishermen to set up nets, hoping to guide her back to the ocean.
We managed to push her out of the pond but she got stuck in a nearby bay. Freedom was so close but also seemed far away. We brainstormed how to get her over the sandbars and boulders blocking her path. Luckily, we adapted our strategy. Using boats equipped with high-powered water pumps, we herded Gretel toward the entrance of the bay. We angled the water jets to propel her over the obstacles and into deeper water. After two weeks in captivity, she was finally free in the open ocean.
Most people view great white sharks as monsters, but they’re not as dangerous as they seem. During her time in the lagoon, Gretel didn’t harm anyone, and she actually sparked public interest in shark conservation. After she swam away, I was eager to see the data from our tag, only to discover that it malfunctioned. I lost track of her, leaving me to wonder if I’d ever encounter another great white.
Fast forward to today, and great white sightings in Cape Cod have increased dramatically. Over the years, I’ve tagged more than 400 white sharks, revealing that they are returning to our waters more frequently.
In recent years, scientists have conducted research showing a rise in shark populations along the East Coast. According to a study by the Atlantic Shark Institute, the population of great whites has nearly tripled since the early 2000s. The increase can be attributed to protection measures and conservation efforts.
Gretel’s story not only highlights the remarkable resilience of these sharks but also reminds us to approach wildlife with respect and curiosity rather than fear.
For more insights into shark behavior and conservation efforts, you may want to check out resources from the Ocean Conservancy.
Greg Skomal is a fisheries biologist and an expert on white sharks, sharing his experiences in his book, “Chasing Shadows: My Life Tracking the Great White Shark.”
