New Jersey Swimmers Beware: That Dolphin Might Be A Shark!

Wildlife officials are warning people against getting too close to a family of dolphins that have been hanging out in two New Jersey rivers, saying sharks have also been known to frequent the area.

Bull sharks, which have a pretty bad rep for attacking humans, have been known to swim in the same section of the Navesink River where the 15 wayward dolphins have been staying, said Bob Schoelkopf, co-director of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine.

“In that area are bull sharks that go in there quite frequently,” he said. “You never know what you might be looking at; it could be a dolphin or it could be a shark.”

Wildlife officials have been concerned about the increasing number of boaters and jetskiers getting too close to the dolphins, which have been in the area since June. Federal regulations require that boaters stay at least 50 yards away from the dolphins; harassing them is punishable by a $10,000 fine.

Schoelkopf said it might have been a shark that one man recently tried chasing after seeing something big break the surface of the water; the man’s wife later reported the encounter. Schoelkopf said the animal probably WAS NOT A DOLPHIN because it never resurfaced, which dolphins must do regularly to breathe.

He also said quite a few injured seals were found in the area with wounds from shark attacks.

[source]