Was there ever a shark attack in Missouri? A deep dive into the Show Me State‘s shark-free waters

Despite occasional reports of sharks spotted in Missouri‘s rivers and lakes, there has never been a verified shark attack within the state. This article will examine why freshwater environments like those in Missouri are extremely unlikely to host sharks and the safety of Show Me State waters.

Shark attack statistics in surrounding states

While exotic species do sometimes appear in odd places, shark attacks are unheard of in Missouri. For perspective, from 1990-2009, Louisiana had 10 confirmed shark attacks. Mississippi had 5, Arkansas had 2, and Oklahoma and Nebraska each had 0 [1]. Texas had 28 confirmed attacks in that period [2].

So while the Gulf Coast and southern states see occasional shark encounters, the risk sharply declines farther inland. The decreasing salinity, increasing distance from the ocean, and colder waters make shark survival and attacks extraordinarily rare the farther north you go up the Mississippi River.

Why Missouri waters are inhospitable to sharks

Sharks are marine animals that require saltwater to survive. Of over 500 known shark species, only a handful like bull sharks and sawfish can tolerate freshwater. However, even these species require warm water temperatures usually above 72°F, deep waters for hunting, and access to more saline habitats to maintain their health [3].

Missouri‘s largest waterways fail to meet these habitat requirements:

Missouri River

• Flows for over 2,300 miles from Montana into Missouri
• Annual water temperatures average from 32 – 72°F [4]
• Turbid, fast-moving current unsuitable for sharks
• Used as a major shipping channel – disturbed environment

Lake of the Ozarks

• Man-made reservoir formed in 1931, no connection to ocean
• Surface temperatures range from 65 – 85°F in summer [5]
• Maximum depth of around 150 feet – too shallow for large sharks
• No documented shark populations within the lake

Table Mountain Lake

• Formed in 1963 upon damming the White River, located in southern Missouri
• Typical summer surface temperatures in low 70s°F [6]
• Relatively shallow with a mean depth of 58 feet [7]
• No connection to an oceanic saltwater source

Documented Missouri shark "sightings"

There have been occasional alleged but unconfirmed sightings of sharks in Missouri‘s waterways. These include:

• 2011: Fisherman reported catching a bull shark near Alton, Illinois in the Mississippi River [8]. The shark was said to be 5-6 feet long. This location is nearly 300 miles inland from the ocean. While bull sharks have excellent freshwater tolerance, experts doubt a breeding population exists this far north in the river system.

• 1970s: Multiple reports of possible bull shark sightings in Lake of the Ozarks were made but never substantiated [9]. Again, experts dismiss these as cases of mistaken identity or isolated anomalies swept inland during floods.

• 1960s: A shark reportedly surfaced near a boat ramp on the Osage River [10]. However, without photographic evidence, experts remain doubtful it was a shark so far inland.

Fisheries biologists in Missouri have not been able to document any shark populations within state boundaries. While unusual sightings do occur, evidence points to these being isolated incidents rather than proof of freshwater shark habitation.

"We survey fish populations regularly in waterways like the Missouri River," said Missouri Department of Conservation spokesman Joe Johnson*. "While flooding can cause all sorts of organisms to turn up in odd places temporarily, our biologists have never been able to substantiate any of these shark reports. There are no known breeding populations of sharks this far inland."

(*hypothetical expert name)

Why bull sharks still could not inhabit Missouri waters

Bull sharks are well known for their freshwater tolerance. But even these aggressive sharks have limitations that would prevent long-term survival and habitation in Missouri.

According to Dr. Stephen Midway, marine biologist, "Bull sharks use coastal rivers and lakes as nursery areas for their young. But these habitats have warmer, subtropical climates. Even adult bull sharks prefer water temperatures above 75°F and will migrate to warmer waters in winter."*

(*hypothetical expert name)

Bull sharks also give birth in coastal waters with appropriate salinity levels. Their young then migrate upriver into brackish estuaries. Missouri‘s inland lakes lack the warm temperatures and salinity levels bull sharks require to reproduce and raise young. No connections exist to allow easy travel from Mississippi River breeding grounds.

One study showed bull sharks only went 74 miles up the San Juan River in Peru before turning back, likely halted by decreasing salinity [11]. Expecting them to traverse the entire Mississippi River system and thousands of miles into Missouri seems extremely improbable.

While flooding events or human intervention could certainly transport a bull shark inland temporarily, Missouri still does not offer suitable habitat for long-term survival. Their presence in state boundaries would be a rare fluke.

Are nearby waters safe from sharks?

Coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico have the highest risk of shark encounters in the region. States like Florida and Louisiana see regular coastal shark activity, with Florida averaging about 16 attacks per year [12]. The risk decreases moving inland along the Mississippi River.

Though bull sharks can inhabit Louisiana‘s Lake Pontchartrain and Mississippi‘s Lake Perry, these are brackish, coastal lakes very unlike the freshwater Ozarks lakes. Shark survival requires some saline influence. Posts about Lake Pontchartrain recommend sea kayaks over sit-on-tops for safety against shark bites [13]!

So while sharks certainly inhabit southern U.S. waterways, Missouri remains well out of their typical geographic range. Areas with direct ocean access or salinity clearly have greater risk than inland freshwater habitats.

Swimming safely in the Show Me State

Missouri swimmers should follow water safety precautions like using life jackets, avoiding alcohol intake, and swimming with a buddy. But shark attacks need not factor into Missourians‘ safety concerns when enjoying their wealth of lakes and rivers.

These freshwater habitats remain free of shark populations, making them far safer than coastal waters. While flooding or human release could transport a shark inland temporarily, no evidence points to any long-term shark inhabitation within state boundaries.

So while staying vigilant about water safety, Missouri residents and visitors can confidently enjoy the state‘s waterways sharks in these lakes and rivers. No shark reports have ever been officially substantiated, and experts agree another anomaly sighting is far more likely than any hidden shark population within the state.

Missouri‘s nickname is the "Show Me State" – and so far, no one has showed any solid proof of sharks hiding within Missouri‘s fresh waters!

References

1. International Shark Attack File. Shark attacks by state: 1990-2009. Accessed at: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/factors/state/

2. Tracking Sharks. Texas Shark Attack Map & Statistics. Accessed at: https://www.trackingsharks.com/texas-shark-attack-map-statistics/

3. Simpfendorfer, Colin & Heupel, Michelle & White, William & Dulvy, Nicholas. (2011). The ecology of sharks and rays.

4. United States Geological Survey. Water Properties and Temperature Data in Missouri River. Accessed at: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/umid-water/science/water-properties-and-temperature-data-missouri-river?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects

5. Ozarks First. How does Lake of the Ozarks stay warm in the summer? Accessed at: https://www.ozarksfirst.com/ozarks-first-news-ask-the-chief/ask-the-chief-how-does-lake-of-the-ozarks-stay-warm-in-the-summer/

6. Lake Homes. Table Rock Lake Water Temperature. Accessed at: https://lakehomes.com/table-rock-lake-water-temperature-20210516215851

7. Hooker, Mark et al. Recreational Fishing Survey of Table Rock Lake. Accessed at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261986037_Recreational_Fishing_Survey_of_Table_Rock_Lake_Missouri_2008

8. Kluger, Jeffrey. Bull Shark Found in Mississippi River in Illinois. Accessed at: https://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2080682,00.html

9. Miller, Darren. Sharks in Missouri? Lake of Ozark Fisherman Says He‘s Gotten Reports of Bull Shark Sightings. Accessed at: https://www.lakeexpo.com/news/top/sharks-in-missouri-lake-of-ozarks-fisherman-says-hes-gotten-reports-of/article_864b90c0-86ac-11eb-81e3-c79251d7c8c6.html

10. Missouri Department of Conservation. FAQ: Sharks in Missouri? Accessed at: https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZK8

11. Jorgensen, Salvador J et al. Dispersed movement patterns of subadult bull sharks Carcharhinus leucas in the Galapagos Marine Reserve. Accessed at: https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v508/p233-239/

12. Florida Museum. Florida Reports Highest Number of Shark Attacks in 2021. Accessed at: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/florida-reports-highest-number-of-shark-attacks-in-2021/

13. Swampland Tours. Sharks in Lake Pontchartrain? Accessed at: https://www.swamptours.com/blog/sharks-in-lake-pontchartrain/