Fins Up: Shark Cruising Beach at Ocean City

A roughly 8-foot long hammerhead shark – possibly about to give birth -- has kept lifeguards and swimmers on alert as it has lingered near the beaches of Ocean City, Maryland.

The popular resort city is packed in the summer, and the regular presence of the shark for the past two days has caused a commotion.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police say the shark is injured, as well, and will improve if gawkers leave it alone. The animal likely hurt itself ramming boats, biologists say.

If you want to follow the shark’s status, it has its own Twitter hashtag, of course: #OCSHARK.

On its Twitter feed the DNR Police say estimates put the scalloped hammerhead shark at 300 pounds and 8 feet.

This particular species is on an international endangered species list, says the DNR.

»Photo: Hammerhead shark swimming along the beach at Ocean City, MD, courtesy of the Maryland DNR