Sharks in Pennsylvania are rare, with some found in the Chesapeake Bay area, which covers a part of PA alongside five other US states. In 2020, a 400 pounds bull shark was caught in the West Branch Susquehanna River. The only recorded shark attack in the state occurred around 50 years ago, in February 1961, in an aquarium. 30-year-old Charles Peterson had a deep wound on his thumb when cleaning the tank at the aquarium in Fairmount Park.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in Pennsylvania (in the Chesapeake Bay area)
Species | Maximum Size | Aggressiveness |
Sandbar Shark | 5.5-8.5 feet | Not aggressive |
Bull Shark | 7-12 feet | Highly aggressive |
Sand Tiger Shark | 7-10 feet | Not aggressive (due to their small mouths) |
Smooth Dogfish | 4-5 feet | Not aggressive (due to their blunt teeth) |
Spiny Dogfish | 2.5-3.5 feet | Not aggressive (due to their small size) |