Unlike most sharks, bull sharks can survive in freshwater for long periods of time. They have even been found in the Mississippi and Amazon Rivers. They prefer shallow coastal water, which means they can often come into contact with humans.
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Bull sharks occur in tropical to subtropical coastal waters, worldwide. They also occur in a number of river systems and some freshwater lakes (Compagno et al. 2005). They have been reported 3700 km (2220 mi) up the Amazon River in Peru, and over 3000 km (1800 mi) up the Mississippi River, in Illinois.
But Bull Sharks are able to recycle salt in their kidneys, maintaining salt levels critical to its survival. Yet even the Bull Shark would not be able to make its way into the Great Lakes watershed and survive! The water temperature in the Great Lakes is far too cold for most sharks (including the Bull Shark).
In only one case was a shark actually found in Lake Michigan, and it was proven to be a hoax. April 25, 1969. Two coho salmon fishermen pulled a 29-inch (73-centimeter) shark from the water around two miles off the coast of Milwaukee.
Recife Beach, BrazilThe most common shark found on Recife Beach is the Bull Shark, an often unpredictable kind of shark that is known for its strength and tenacity. While not especially fast, bull sharks are nevertheless frightening to come across in the wild.
While there have been past “sightings,” most have turned out to be pranks or misidentifications. The reality is that the largest of the Great Lakes (Lake Superior and Michigan) are extremely deep lakes that are too cold for sharks.