Shark Surprises Bar on Jersey Shore During Hurricane Flooding in Erin

Beach Haven, NJ— A little shark swam inside Bird & Betty’s, a popular Jersey Shore restaurant and nightclub, late Thursday night, interrupting karaoke. Hurricane Erin’s outer bands brought bay water to Long Beach Island, which brought an unusual visitor.

Bird & Betty’s, which is close to a public pier, was partially flooded when the floodwaters broke through the bulkheads and reached the parking lot. The waves came close to the bar’s outside host stand, which looked weird to both staff and patrons. Employees witnessed a small, arm-length sand shark swimming through the floodwaters near the bar door on karaoke night.

Dave Lundy, the server, remarked that the sight was unlike anything he had ever seen at the restaurant. There was a fin in the water, and the whole parking lot was full. Lundy remarked, “We couldn’t believe what we saw.” “It seemed like the bay and bar had become one.”

Videos from social media showed a Beach Haven police officer getting the shark and bringing it back to the bay. The monster came back to the parking lot, went around the host stand, and seemed to join in the fun of the night. Staff watched the shark swim around in the floodwaters in awe for most of the night.

As the water levels plummeted, the shark’s stranding became a problem. A heroic security guy took the baby predator back into the bay, where it could live in its native habitat again. Witnesses said the event was exciting and strange, displaying how nature can interact with people during bad weather.

Hurricane Erin, which was 350 miles from the Jersey Shore, caused flooding and waves that were 12 feet high. On one of the last big summer weekends, beachgoers had a hard time since the storm’s outer bands caused erosion in a number of coastal communities.

The Bird & Betty’s tragedy is an example of how hurricanes can damage places that are far away from the coast. The sand shark’s short stay in the bar shows how unpredictable big weather events may be and how important it is to get ready for hurricane season.

Local officials are keeping an eye on flooding around the coast and telling those who live there and visit to stay away from flooded areas, especially in shallow waters, during storm surges.

The strange guest scared some in the Jersey Shore community, but they posted videos and pictures on social media with shock and comedy. This unusual story has attracted both locals and tourists, revealing how bad weather and animals may interact in ways that are hard to predict.