You Have to See This Beachgoer’s Terrifying Find!
While many beachgoers will take to the sands this summer to hunt for seashells, there is a set of eager folks who will be forgoing the sand dollars in lieu of something much more interesting—sharks’ teeth!
That’s right, dozens of shorelines up and down the East Coast present optimal opportunities for finding these creepy objects. And though most are happy to end up finding a couple of chompers that once belonged to a Great White, others scour the sand for a much more specific catch—the Megalodon tooth.
Back in 2015, one of these enthusiasts, Denny Bland, was conducting a search of his own on North Topsail Beach in Surf City, North Carolina. As he sifted through the sand, looking for one of these serrated treasures, Bland came across something much more unexpected than a run-of-the-mill shark’s tooth…
Nope, that is not a photography trick—that is actually a 7-inch long Megalodon tooth! As expected, Bland was absolutely flabbergasted by the find. He told local news station WITN that discovering one of these rare teeth made him feel like a “lottery winner”—and we don’t blame him!
As it turns out, not every person who visits one of the special beaches walks away with one of these beauties in hand. In fact, the likelihood that you would actually find one of these prehistoric babies on your own is on par with getting bitten by a shark. How lucky is he?!
The Mighty Megalodon
If you’re close with a kid who loves marine biology, then we bet that little one has already given you an earful about the biggest shark that has ever lived, and for good reason. We think that these guys may have been the most impressive dinosaurs of all!
The particular tooth that Bland uncovered was around 7 inches, which means that this specific Megalodon measured somewhere between 60 and 70 feet! Pretty impressive considering the average Great White is just between 15 to 17 feet long. These gargantuan creatures actually make the current most feared fish in the sea look small in comparison.
It’s unnerving to think about it, but one of these “super sharks” could actually consume a Great White in one swift chomp!
And though it’s only natural to make parallels between these two beasts of the sea, it’s important to note that the Great White Shark and the Megalodon is not related. As a matter of fact, Megalodons were creatures with completely different temperaments, appetites, and feeding capacities.
Pretty cool stuff, right? If you want to find one of these prehistoric relics for yourself, you’re most likely to snag one on the Venice Fishing Pier in Florida. Of course, they are also scattered all around the East Coast, reaching as far north as Maryland. Sounds like a fun, family-friendly activity to us. Happy hunting!
What do you think of this amazing prehistoric find? Have you ever encountered a Megalodon tooth? If so, where did you find it? Tell us all about your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below!