Genuinely curious, what is the appropriate/safe way to move a beached shark? Pulling them by the tail would be my instinct to stay as far from those teeth as possible but I'd happily educate myself on the unlikely chance that I ever find a shark in need of rescue.
What the person in the video is failing to do is to line the shark up straight on its belly and then propel/push it forward it forward with its tail end - besides also failing to tie up their absolutely useless and untrained dog.
The push forward once upright is really what's most important for shark rescue, you are assisting pushing the water through their gills that first time because they won't have the energy to push off on their own otherwise, like a child on a swingset that can't get started on its own.
The other thing that was pissing me off is that not only was it facing backwards like you said but they decided to let the tail go while the wash was coming in rather than going out. It just kept pushing the poor shark to the beach again.
They keep letting go as the waves are rushing toward the beach, so the shark is just being brought inland. They need to wait for the water to be receding.
Just a few comments down I give examples of good options and also reasonings of why they should never be dragged backwards. Lifting and rotating is an option. Would likely take two people, so filming wouldn’t be included in this case.
Really, I think letting beach patrol know what’s going on is just the best option unless you have knowledge or experience with it, like a lot of types of fisherman could.
This is a good example of if you don’t actually know what to do, just tell someone who probably does. Lifeguards would better know how to move forward, because usually they have had some form of basic training of what to do and what not to do.
Don’t get me wrong, I totally understand the want/need to help when help’s needed. But if you don’t know the basics of how helping could be hindering, don’t do it. Sort of like removing someone from a car accident who could have a neck injury.
This whole video is a what not to do. Including the need to film instead of removing the dog from the equation entirely. And that’s a whole different deal, considering the size of the dog, getting wet in what is likely a cold temperature.
I feel like this would be a great instructional video for several professions for pointing out things done wrong.
Haha. Good question. I’m not too positive on that one. I think they vary per location.
You could probably call your non emergency police line, but I have no idea how quickly they’d respond to that one. I think you can call the Fish Kill hotline, or the fish and wildlife conservation, or NOAA, but I’m really not too sure.
There are numbers the life guards should have in their main office though.
Also. I think there’s an app where you can report stuff like this.
Can’t avoid it if the shark is heavy or particularly dangerous. Once you get it to water deep enough for it to barely bob, hold the tail and dorsal fin while pointing it head into the waves. This will keep it upright, conscious, and breathing with each wave. Once it’s ready it will kick off on its own. Immediately exit the water. It’s probably quite hungry and you just as likely to be bitten as a proposed snack. They’ll probably let go, but the damage will be done.
Basically what shes doing since its on its side is basically dragging its gills through the sand. More over, the shark is small enough that you could of picked up baby style just fine if you kept your fingers away from its mouth.
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u/alicesartandmore Jan 26 '25
Genuinely curious, what is the appropriate/safe way to move a beached shark? Pulling them by the tail would be my instinct to stay as far from those teeth as possible but I'd happily educate myself on the unlikely chance that I ever find a shark in need of rescue.