PIQUA — Mystery solved? Perhaps.
A social media explanation appears to shed light on a strange discovery in Miami County earlier this week.
After WHIO reported on Haley Weidner finding the head of a shark near the river in Piqua’s Roadside Park, a Huber Heights woman wrote New Center 7 and posted on social media, claiming responsibility for the shark’s placement.
The woman claimed she bought the shark head at Jungle Jims and used it for fishing, then gave it “to the fish to eat,” and assumes it washed back on shore.
>> RELATED: Shark sighting: Miami County woman finds shark head along Great Miami banks
She posted photos of her purchase online, which seem to match the shark carcass found in the park Monday.
WHIO confirmed Jungle Jims does, at times, sell shark heads – in fact, one WHIO employee noticed sharks for sale at the store’s Fairfield location in recent days.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wednesday acknowledged it has been tipped off the shark was in fact “placed or discarded on the riverbank.” ODNR urges people “to never place anything in the waterway. Fish or otherwise.”
As for the woman claiming responsibility for the shark turning up along a local riverbank? She says she never meant to cause any panic. (WHIO is not identifying her at this point since she has not been charged, and has not agreed to speak on the record)
She could face trouble, though.
ODNR said Wednesday, wildlife officers “are investigating the incident for a potential stream litter,” and added charges could be possible.
Cox Media Group
