The internet has been flooded in recent days with rumors about a huge Kodiak Shark which was spotted in Lake Michigan.
Social media is flooded with news about the gargantuan creature prowling in the waters of Lake Michigan, causing excitement as well as trepidation among visitors to the lake.
Many TikTokers have also posted stories about how the huge creature has attacked and injured visitors to the lake.
However, Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources have negated any such incidents and denied any documented injuries or supporting evidence.
The ‘Kodiak shark’, the name given to the giant freshwater species, has been discussed on social media, particularly the social media platform TikTok.
People described the creature to be 65 feet long and seen in Lake Michigan. The viral claims also talk about it threatening swimmers and lake visitors.
However, the lake authorities have denied the lake harboring any species of this size or type.
Viral Videos Spawn Kodiak Shark Claims
Viral videos have flooded social media and claimed that the freshwater-only species has attacked humans, with multiple victims reportedly receiving treatment at Michigan’s Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital.
The viral videos also claimed that the shark is particularly adapted to a freshwater habitat, something of a rarity since known shark species do not venture into freshwater.
Hospital Refutes Shark Attack Claims
Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital spokesperson Amanda Klingbail in an email has stated that there is no record of shark attack victims and negated the claims made in the viral videos.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Michigan also stated that there is no record of the existence of Kodiak Sharks in Lake Michigan. This was stated by Ed Golder, the department’s public information officer, in an email.
Freshwater Sharks
According to the information given by the Australian Museum, there are only three freshwater sharks in existence in the world – Speartooth Shark, Ganges Shark, and Northern River Shark.
However, some marine shark species like the Bull Shark can live in both freshwater and saltwater.
However, none of these can be seen in the giant lakes in North America. Also, biologists point out that no marine species can live permanently in a freshwater environment.
Scientific Institutions Do Not Recognize Kodiak Shark Species
There is no mention of Kodiak Sharks in any scientific literature or by reputable shark research organizations.
No mention of the species can be found in extensive species databases like FishBase and other marine indexing websites.
In all probability, the existence of the Kodiak Shark is just a myth.
Also, fact-finding sites on examination of the TikTok viral videos have discovered that the video does not show authentic animal recordings but rather artificially changed or generated.
The news has also been negated by prominent media outlets such as the Detroit Free Press and Michigan-based Wood TV.
