Sharks lose thousands of teeth each year! Yet finding merely one, washed up on the Gulf shore can be a challenge. Here are some tips that can increase your chance of finding a Shark’s tooth on the shore. 

1. Look for the mounds of shells, in low-tide right after rainfall. The greater surface of shore, the more shells that are available examine, hopefully finding a shark’s tooth. Try to go when the tide is very far out, when more of the hidden piles of shells are exposed. Rainfall can also act as a natural sifter, as the raindrops separate the shells in the piles. The more shells you are able to see, the increased chances of one of them being a shark’s tooth! 

2. Put the reticular activating system to good use! Have you ever shopped for a car, and started seeing your desired care everywhere on the highway? That is the reticular activating system working! It is the part of the brain that recognizes patterns. Get familiar with the shapes, sizes, and colors of the shark’s teeth. Washed up on shore they won’t look like anything from the Jaw’s movie. Get familiar with the pattern you are looking for. Check out a picture of common shark’s teeth found on the Gulf here:  https://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/2013/05/22/identify-your-sharks-teeth/ 

3. Practice Patience! The more you enjoy walking the beach, the more beach you’ll cover, and the more likely to find a shark’s tooth! Make the walk as enjoyable as possible. Dress for the weather, including a portable sunshade if needed. Bring a basket to collect any other treasures you might find. Have a good playlist ready and downloaded on your phone to motivate your treasure hunting! It should be a fun activity, and if a shark’s tooth is not found, then you have more of a reason to return to the tide tomorrow! 

Happy hunting!