Boaters Stumbled on a Great White Devouring a Whale off Rhode Island

Quick Take

• What lured two great whites to the same spot off Rhode Island hints at a feeding behavior most people have never heard of. See the feeding behavior →
• Great white sightings near Rhode Island are more common than locals think. Check the actual threat level →
• The location where this happened may explain why the sighting is less alarming than headlines suggest, while also being more ecologically significant. Explore the ecological significance →

A boater found more than he or she bargained for while sailing along the coast of Rhode Island. On the way back from the Northeast Canyons, the Fleet RI observed a dead whale floating in the water near Block Island. But that wasn’t all—as the whale bobbed in the waves, a great white shark appeared. The video, now viral, shows the power and strength behind the shark’s predatory nature.

A 15-Foot Apex Predator Finds a Meal

Whalefalls are common feeding grounds for sharks. The decaying flesh of the animal, combined with the scent of blood, attracts sharks. The carcass was found near the Northeast Canyons, a deep-sea ecosystem rich in marine biodiversity. Therefore, it’s not surprising that a great white showed up for a free meal.

This location is roughly eight miles off the coast of Rhode Island, far from any potential beach encounters. Spotting a great white in these waters is consistent with their known migration patterns. This sighting may also indicate a healthy local ecosystem. While it’s unclear what caused the whale’s death, according to the Atlantic Shark Institute — which documented the sighting — it’s not uncommon for sharks to come from miles away.

As the Atlantic Shark Institute observed the first great white, they noted a second great white swimming up to the whale carcass. While the first shark appeared curious about Ian Shilosky’s nearby boat—he was the one who took the video—the second shark was primarily focused on feeding.

Great White Sightings Near Rhode Island

In this case, the two great whites posed no threat to beachgoers or anyone on nearby boats. They were there solely to feed and showed little interest in anything else, including the people observing them. Great whites are fairly common around Block Island and are especially active during the summer and fall. Warmer waters draw them north, where they feed on marine species in the deep waters off the coast.

They typically avoid shallow water, and while it’s not unusual to see them feeding on a whale carcass at sea, it’s very rare to spot them from the shoreline. Great white shark bites in Rhode Island are exceedingly rare. In the last two centuries, there have only been two unprovoked shark attacks off of the state.