Five people were arrested in North Port after police say they entered an active construction site near Tamiami Trail South and West Villages Parkway to hunt shark teeth, ignoring posted no-trespassing signs. North Port Police Public Information Officer Brittany Kammerer said the site poses real dangers, from open holes to heavy machinery in motion. The five suspects are scheduled for arraignment on October 9.
The temptation is easy to understand for anyone who grew up hunting teeth on Suncoast beaches. Construction excavation can unearth large fossils still in their original matrix, which is exactly where the biggest megalodon teeth turn up. Brittanie Pierce, co-owner of Shark Frenzy in Venice, explained that appeal, but she also pointed to the legal routes that work just as well, starting with beachcombing. Teeth wash up on our beaches every day, and the pickings get even better after a storm.
If you’re after a trophy-sized megalodon tooth, offshore diving remains the go-to option, and it keeps you clear of both private property and court dates. For everyone else, low tide on a local beach with a sifter and some patience is still the best deal in town.
Where do you hunt for shark teeth, and what’s the best one you’ve ever found?
