Cape Cod Lifeguards End Summer Duty

Lifeguards at Cape Cod’s major beaches have left for the summer.

Operations at the Cape’s six national seashore beaches ended Labor Day.

Officials provided these safety tips—and especially warned swimmers to stay away from seals, which attack great white sharks:

• Dangerous rip tides, undertows, and shore break exist in the water off of our beaches.
• Sharks have been observed daily actively feeding on seals.
• Do not swim near seals.
• Swim close to shore, where your feet can touch the bottom.
• Swim, paddle, kayak, and surf in groups.
• Do not swim alone in the ocean at dawn or dusk. Avoid isolation.

Seals are the major prey species for the great white shark, and as the seal population increases, the great white sharks have become more numerous. There have been confirmed reports of great white sharks feeding on seals close to shore, as well as great white shark sightings from spotter planes flying along the Outer Cape and near swimming beaches. While it is rare for a great white shark to bite a human, it did occur in Truro in 2012.

Summer 2015 Great White Shark Encounters on Cape Cod

• ‘Record’ Great White Shark Sightings Prompt Warning
  
• Incredible Footage of Great White Shark Attacking Seal
• 17 Great White Sharks Spotted
• Great White Shark Vs. Humpback Whale
• Footage Shows Daring Great White Shark Rescue
• Man Bitten By Shark Lives to Tell Tale
• First Great White Shark Sighting of Summer 2015

Photo: nps.gov