Stand up for the facts!
Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.
I would like to contribute
No, bull sharks weren’t dumped in an Arkansas river
If Your Time is short
- This story originated on a self-described "fake news" website.
A screenshot of an article is spreading some unnerving news on social media — that a bunch of sharks are swimming in a river running through Arkansas.
"Highway accident leads to over a dozen bull sharks being dumped in Ouachita RIver," it says. "An early morning accident on Airport Road led to the accidental release of over a dozen bull sharks into the Ouachita River, one being 15 ft in length."
The screenshot is being shared as authentic news, but if you search for the story online, you’ll find that it originated on a self-described "fake news" website.
This post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
Featured Fact-check
The story was posted on the website Spa City Chronicle on Feb. 25. It’s labeled "Fake News" and details the hunt for the largest shark — "Jaws" — who was supposedly captured attacking a small boat.
Sign up for PolitiFact texts
Bull sharks are no strangers to rivers. They prefer low-salinity waters and can thrive in freshwater, according to Louisiana Fisheries, which noted that they’ve been found as far up the Mississippi River as St. Louis, Mo.
But this story isn’t true. We rate claims that it is False.
Our Sources
Facebook post, March 25, 2021
Spa City Chronicle, Highway accident leads to over a dozen bull sharks being dumped in Ouachita River, Feb. 25, 2021
Louisiana Fisheries, Thug: The Bull shark, visited March 25, 2021
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Ciara O'Rourke
No, bull sharks weren’t dumped in an Arkansas river
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.