Dead Bull Shark Found in Texas River Reminds Us They Can Sometimes Survive in Fresh Water

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A dead bull shark was recently found in the Trinity River in Kenefick, TX. Yes, a shark in a river. While evidence suggests that the shark didn’t actually swim up the river, this serves as a good reminder that this particular species has been known to do just that. The bull, also known as the Zambezi shark, is not a freshwater shark in the true sense of the term, but it is capable of surviving in brackish estuaries and freshwater rivers in which other species of sharks cannot.

The bull shark is rather amazing due to its ability to survive in freshwater, and it has a history of making some serious journeys upriver. The species has been found up the Mississippi, venturing as far north as Illinois. One of the oddest cases of bull sharks found in fresh water came in 2011 when a flood at an Australian golf course resulted in two bulls taking up residence in a pond near the 14^th green. It might sound like the plot of a bad horror movie, but it’s very much a real thing.

While the great white shark gets most of the headlines, the bull shark can hold its own when it comes to daunting creatures of the sea. It’s considered to be one of the most aggressive species of shark, and some experts consider it to be the most dangerous to humans.

It’s possible that a bull shark was responsible for the infamous string of attacks at Matawan Creek in New Jersey in 1916, a series of incidents that would end up as the inspiration for Peter Benchley’s book Jaws. It was made into a movie; maybe you’ve heard of it.

The bull shark prefers shallow waters, where most humans are found. According to the University of Florida, Bull sharks rank number three on the list of reported attacks on humans since 1580, trailing only the great white and the tiger. Bull sharks may actually be responsible for more attacks than given credit for due to misidentification and a somewhat under-the-radar reputation.

I saw a small bull shark off the coast of southwest Florida back in 2012. I was standing on the beach, but I have to admit I was still a little creeped out because I knew of their reputation for being aggressive. It took me a couple of days to muster the courage to re-enter the Gulf that week, despite knowing the statistics were hugely in my favor.

We’re all just human, and the idea of being eaten alive by any animal is pretty terrifying. However, even with the knowledge the Bull can survive in freshwater, I’d suggest cozying up to the statistics and enjoying your time in the water.