Beached shark at White Horse Beach
In a summer of shark sightings, Massachusetts beach goers are getting a closer look at one.
A harmless, 20-foot basking shark washed up on White Horse Beach in Plymouth late Thursday night after it beached in shallow water and died. People reported seeing two basking sharks off the beach Thursday.
Officials are considering how best to remove the shark and state scientists plan a necropsy.
Several more feared great white sharks have been seen in the area of Monomoy Island off Chatham. Scientists say they're drawn by an explosion in the seal population. South Beach has been closed since late July as a precaution.
Nauset Beach in Orleans was temporarily closed Thursday after lifeguard spotted a shark fin 300 yards offshore.
The last fatal shark attack on a human in Massachusetts was nearly 75 years ago.
Listen to WBZ's Doug Cope's report from White Horse Beach.
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