Cape Cod officials warn of white sharks ahead of July Fourth

Cape Cod's beaches and towns may be quieter because of coronavirus pandemic, but officials are reminding visitors ahead of July Fourth holiday that famous Massachusetts destination remains a popular getaway for or summertime travelers: great white sharks.

Cape Cod National Seashore Chief Ranger Leslie Reylds warned at a news conference that powerful predators are coming close eugh to shore to be a concern for swimmers.

Officials in Orleans also have documented at least two shark attacks on seals in recent days, Cape Cod Times

And Gregory Skomal, a prominent shark scientist with state Division of Marine Fisheries, says he tagged three great whites circling a whale carcass earlier this month as his research team began its work for season.

peninsula souast of Boston saw two shark attacks on humans in 2018, one of m fatal. Officials have recommended swimmers remain in waist deep water where possible and avoid areas where sharks have been previously spotted as y

Great whites have been coming to Cape in greater numbers each summer to prey on region’s large seal colonies. Most tend to favor Atlantic Ocean-facing beaches where seals tend to congregate, but researchers have found m off nearly every part of Cape.

Local residents concerned about booming shark population, meanwhile, say y'll boost ir efforts to help protect swimmers this summer.

More pilots have volunteered to radio in shark sightings as y fly over peninsula, said Hear Doyle, co-founder of Cape Cod Ocean Community, a local group that advocates for white shark surveillance and detection measures.

Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, a Chatham-based research group, is also offering its Sharktivity smartphone app, which allows users to report and track shark sightings.