Local News

A great white shark washed up on a Cape Cod beach. A tow truck was called to haul it away.

"Not one of our typical calls for service."

Orleans Police Department via Facebook

Sometimes things can be a little bit different on the Cape.

Just ask the Orleans Police Department, who responded to a call for a great white shark washed up on a beach, the department shared on Facebook Tuesday afternoon.

“Not one of our typical calls for service,” the department wrote. “Nor is it one for our local duty tow, Nauset Recovery. But, as always, we answered the call.

“Unfortunately, this giant was located washed up on the beach, and just as with a 4×4 stuck on the outer, we called Dennis to tow it away.”

It wasn’t immediately clear where exactly the shark headed on the flatbed tow truck, but the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy said a necropsy would be performed to learn more about the shark’s death.

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“At this point, we do not know if it was a tagged or previously identified individual,” the organization wrote.

As for the call, “You really never know what kind of call you’ll respond to on any given shift,” police said. “At least Sgt Elliott only needed to follow the tow truck and didn’t have to wrestle an unruly Great White.”

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John Waller

Deputy Editor, News

John Waller is a deputy editor overseeing news coverage on Boston.com. He is a Lexington native and Colby College graduate.

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