What Sharks Are on the Coast of Washington State?
Primary Predators. Tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) and great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharius) are the two largest predatory species in the area. Small Sharks. The Middle Class. Gentle Giants. Strangely Shaped Sharks.

Are there sharks in Washington state waters?

Of the known 400 + species of sharks, approximately 30 species either live or have been seen in the coastal waters of Washington State (most preferring deeper waters), and 11 have been spotted in the Puget Sound! The bluntnose sixgill shark is one of the largest sharks that inhabit Washington waters reaching up to13ft.

Do great white sharks live in Washington?

Our huge populations of seals and sea lions and cool waters must be very attractive to these apex predators. But to the puzzlement of many, great whites have never been recorded in the San Juan Islands or Salish Sea of Washington.

Are there sharks around Seattle?

While they may be a unique sight at the surface, several shark species swim Puget Sound beyond the eyesight of anyone but a diver. Hillier said that seven to ten shark species swim in the region, the most common of which is the spiny dogfish.

Are there shark attacks in Washington?

Only two shark attacks on humans have been documented in Washington – one in the 1830s and one in 1989.

Do great white sharks live in Seattle?

The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife is warning locals in the coastal town of Ocean Shores, located west of Seattle, that a great white shark is swimming in the area. Great white sharks are found in most waters of the world, including the waters of coastal British Columbia.

Are there bull sharks in Washington state?

Bull Shark

Bull sharks are commonly found in the shallows along the shoreline and even in inland rivers. They can grow to 11.5 feet and weigh up to 500 pounds.

Are there sharks in La Push Washington?

The waves are good for all experience levels, but the water is cold, rip currents can be strong and wildlife (particularly sharks) is abundant at times. This sport doesn’t come without risk, but the beautiful beaches and surrounding environment are unlike any other surf spot in the world.

Are there sharks in Westport WA?

One took place in Westport, Wash. All are believed to have involved great white sharks. Four of the nine attacks targeted kayakers, while surfers accounted for only two attacks, Collier told The Orange County Register.

Can you swim in Puget Sound?

While Puget Sound is cold and best for activities like paddle-boarding, kayaking, and fishing you can still find swimmable beaches near the city. From rock cliffs to sandy beaches, this park offers both saltwater in Puget Sound and freshwater at two of its inland lakes (Cranberry Lake and Pass Lake).

Are there sharks in Puget Sound Washington?

There are arguably between seven to 10 species of sharks in the broader Puget Sound area. The most common type found is a small and skittish shark called the dogfish sharks. One of the largest types is known as the sixgill shark. Those can grow up to 18 to 20 feet.

Are there great white sharks in the Pacific Northwest?

Great white sharks grow up to 20 feet and can weigh almost 4,000 lbs. They are found all along the west coast, typically in water temperatures between 54 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Human encounters: Every recorded encounter with a great white shark in Oregon has been an unprovoked non-lethal attack on a surfer.

Are there dolphins in Seattle?

Harbor porpoise returned to the Puget Sound around 2000, and sightings of several dolphin species have been increasing since 2010. Sightings of common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins have increased considerably since 2016 and Pacific white-sided dolphins are seen from time to time.

Are there great white sharks in the Puget Sound?

Orcas, seals and otters are known residents of Puget Sound, but a perhaps lesser known fact is that our area waterways are also home to several species of sharks. The infamous Great White Shark is also known to pass through Washington waters.

Do great white sharks come in the Puget Sound?

No there are not any Great Whites in lake Washington. There have been documented sightings of them occasionally over the years in the Puget Sound but the costal waters of Washington are on the very edge of their range and They are not at all common here.

What kind of sharks are in Bellingham Bay?

The most common are the Brown Cat Shark, which grows about 1 to 2 feet long; the Spiny Dogfish, which is the world’s most common shark; the Sixgill Shark, which can grow up to 18 feet long and live for 90 years; and the Sevengill Shark, which grows up to 10 feet long.

Can sharks get into Lake Washington?

No, there aren’t bull sharks in Lake Washington, says the King County Sheriff’s Office Marine Rescue Dive Unit.

Are there sharks in the Hood Canal?

But no one catches a glimpse of the sharks that Puget Sound has become known for: the sixgill. Portland diver Callie Renfro, in Puget Sound’s Hood Canal. Renfro had heard stories about Puget Sound’s sixgill sharks — named for the number of gill slits on each side of the head.