An even more important thing to remember is that sharks, including the Bull Shark, play a vital role in their ecosystem, and under no circumstances should any action be taken that threatens the existence of these animals. Instead, people should probably start reading up on what to do if a shark comes too close – whack it in the nose, eyes, or gills until it takes off to find easier prey, then get out of the water.

Bull sharks are not the only fish to be wary of in the Mississippi River. I’ve watched swans yanked under by extremely large Blue Catfish, Alligator Gars longer than my 8 foot john boat, and I had my fingers slashed by a Northern Pike that took the blue gill I’d just caught while I was reaching for it. The pike wasn’t a giant, but they aren’t afraid of people! I had to get stitches over it.

Tho I admit the growing numbers of bull sharks in our fresh water rivers disturbs me. Any time we enter the water we enter a world we aren’t designed for and can be seen as prey. What will happen if these sharks move into the smaller rivers that dump into the Mississippi? Many of the rivers are used for recreation. anything from fishing and boating to swimming and tubing. It would be a bad day if your floating the Black River on an inner tube and get hit by a Bull Shark.

Thanks for the article on the Lakeview Castle at Hartford, Illinois. If the article is correct and factual it seems old hairy has taken up another residence.

The experience can be frightening to the uninformed and confrontations are even worse. My best and thanks again Loren.

Between the Minnehaha stuff and the supposed attack in Lake Michigan, it makes the 10 year old in me justified in being nervous about swimming in Lake Michigan.

At least one shark made it up the Illinois River, see here.

Lake Nicaragua, a freshwater lake has an indigenous breeding population. They appear to be found more often in African and South American (tropical) rivers than those of temperate zones.