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From great whites to gators, here’s Myrtle Beach’s marine life making waves

Stories by Sun News journalists, with AI summarization

Recent stories from Myrtle Beach highlight the intersection between marine life and human activities along the coastline. The sighting of Frosty, a great white shark, highlights the increased number of sharks frequenting the area, reflecting South Carolina’s unique marine ecosystem. Meanwhile, the appearance of alligators on beaches underscores the region’s ecological complexities as these creatures navigate shifting habitats.

Reports of rip currents and minor shark bite incidents also underline the importance of public education on ocean safety. Collectively, these events paint a picture of a coastal environment rich in natural encounters but requiring awareness and respect from its visitors.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

The male white shark Frosty pinged off the Myrtle Beach, SC coast Dec. 30, 2023.

NO. 1: FROSTY, THE GREAT WHITE SHARK, WAS SPOTTED NEAR MYRTLE BEACH, SC COAST. HERE’S WHERE

A juvenile male white shark pinged off the coast of Myrtle Beach, SC, recently. Here’s what we know. | Published January 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Ben Morse

Eric Oltedal snapped a photo of this alligator that was spotted near the jetties at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet on Sunday. This is the second day an alligator was spotted on the beach. Another alligator was seen in Surfside Beach. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources removed both gators.

NO. 2: FORGET ABOUT THE SHARKS. THERE ARE GATORS ON THE BEACHES IN THE MYRTLE BEACH, SC AREA

Two alligators were found on beaches along the Grand Strand two days apart. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources were called to remove one of them. | Published June 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Terri Richardson

Founders Group International owns about 20 acres of undeveloped oceanfront land from North Ocean Boulevard between Grand Dunes Ocean Club and Vista del Mar at Grande Dunes. By Janet Blackmon Morgan

NO. 3: FACT CHECK: A REPORTED SHARK BITE IN MYRTLE BEACH, SC AREA. HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW

Myrtle Beach Fire Department responded to an incident Wednesday morning. Crews helped an injured person who said they were bitten in the ocean. | Published July 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Emalyn Muzzy

Storm surge from Hurricane Ian destroyed part of the Pawleys Island Pier, which was among several structures damaged in the town. By David Weissman

NO. 4: HERE’S THE TRUTH ABOUT LONGSHORE AND RIP CURRENTS AND HOW TO SURVIVE THEM, SC EXPERTS SAY

Longshore and rip currents warnings: Here’s what to know about the beach hazards and how you can survive being caught in either, according to SC experts. | Published July 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Maria Elena Scott

Beachgoers search for seashells along Springmaid Beach in the southern end of Myrtle Beach, SC. By Jeff Siner

NO. 5: SHELLS, SHARK TEETH & MORE: WHICH SOUVENIRS CAN YOU LEGALLY TAKE FROM MYRTLE BEACH, SC?

Beaches in Myrtle Beach offer a wealth of free, beautiful mementos. Here’s what you can legally bring home from your beach vacation. | Published December 2, 2024 | Read Full Story by Maria Elena Scott

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.