Sharks In the Basement: Long Island Aquarium To The Rescue

RIVERHEAD, NY — It was Riverhead experts to the rescue recently when sharks were found being kept illegally in a basement pool in a Dutchess County residence.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, a search warrant was executed by DEC environmental conservation officers on August 23 at the home in LaGrangeville, where an individual was suspected of harboring illegal wildlife.

Environmental Conservation Police were joined by DEC marine resources personnel and staff from the Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium and the Long Island Aquarium, the DEC said.

Seven live sandbar sharks were seized, along with two dead leopard sharks and one dead hammerhead shark, the DEC said.

The live sharks were kept in a 15-foot above ground pool in the basement; WCS staff and Long Island/Riverhead staff caught the sharks, took blood, measured length, tagged them, and transferred them in the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation's new box truck; no one from the RFRMP staff was on-site.

The box truck is outfitted with plastic tanks, oxygen, and climate control, the DEC said.

A WCS veterinarian assessed the animals’ condition. The sharks were escorted to the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead for holding until the case is closed.

The incident is currently under investigation, the DEC said.

Patch courtesy photo.