By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-13 21:28:46 | Updated at 2026-08-13 23:23:36
6 hours ago
The frigid waters of Maine are not the only obstacle facing beachgoers as the state sees a surge of shark sightings, but hardy Mainers seem unbothered by the ocean monsters.
The New England state has seen numerous great whites this summer, with multiple beaches forced to close and increased warnings issued.
Several sharks were spotted near Scarborough Beach last week over a two-day period, and a lifeguard was pulled underwater on Saturday.
Despite the concerns, some Mainers are unfazed by the sightings. A woman in Lincolnville told Bangor Daily News: 'That’s their home.
'That’s where they live. It’s like going into the woods and not expecting to see a bear.'
Jenny Richardson-Rossbach, a new resident from Monterey Bay, California, said that the sharks make her a 'little nervous,' but 'if you’re gonna play in the ocean, there’s big stuff in there.'
Richardson-Rossbach added that in recent years she has noticed a 'huge, huge difference' in shark sightings.
Ben Wolozin, a Boston resident visiting Lincolnville Beach, told the outlet that encountering a shark was a risk of swimming in the ocean, similar to the risk of bacterial infections.
Maine has experienced an influx in shark sightings this summer. Pictured above are drone images of sharks off the coast earlier this month
There have been multiple high-profile sightings in Maine, pictured above, this summer, prompting beaches to close and implement enhanced precautions
Experts said that an influx of shark sightings has been reported in Maine. Pictured above is a marine doctor tagging a white shark
'As long as they don’t bite me, I have a great appreciation for them. If they bite me or … kill me, I’d appreciate them much less,' he said.
New England Aquarium adjunct scientist John Chisholm has noted the warming waters off the coast as Maine as a potential reason for the influx in sharks
There have been multiple high-profile shark sightings in Maine this month. Greg Wilfert, 71, a lifeguard at Scarborough, was pulled underwater when he attempted to escape a shark.
He told CBS News that he grabbed onto a buoy and was pulled about five feet underwater by a shark, calling the experience 'frightening.'
'The reported shark activity and circumstances surrounding the encounter are very consistent with other activity we have seen and have been reviewed and corroborated by shark expert John Chisholm with New England Aquarium,' the Scarborough Police Department said in a statement at the time.
The department added that a 'significant number of white sharks' had been spotted off Scarborough Beach State Park and Higgins Beach.
Scarborough's Marine Resources Officer Daryen Granata told CBS that at least a dozen sharks were spotted along multiple beaches in Maine over the week.
'Usually we'll see one or two here and there. This is a large volume, larger than I've seen, and I've worked this area for 30-plus years,' he explained.
A juvenille 10-foot great white shark was spotted off the coast of Wells Beach. The beach was forced to close on Wednesday due to increased sightings
Lifeguard Greg Wilfert, 71, was pulled underwater by a shark at Scarborough Beach on Saturday
Despite the influx of shark sightings, seen above, hardy Mainers have noted that the ocean is their home
Granata told CBS earlier this month that five to seven juvenile sharks had been reported, along with a few that were about 10 to 12 feet long.
New England Aquarium adjunct scientist Chisholm told CBS that the region's waters have warmed at an unprecedented rate, potentially explaining the surge.
The shark sightings have prompted enhanced caution from marine officials. Wells Beach was closed on Wednesday due to the sightings, and more sharks were spotted off Higgins Beach that same morning.
Despite growing fears, shark attacks remain relatively rare, with only 11 reported unprovoked attacks in New England since 1837, according to the Inshore White Shark Monitoring (IWSM) Program.
