A Great White Shark's Journey: Tracking the Movements of Kid, a Towering Predator A recent satellite tracking update from the nonprofit research group OCEARCH has shed light on the remarkable journey of Kid, a 9-foot 7-inch great white shark that was tagged in 2022. Kid, whose name is derived from the Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site in Nova Scotia, Canada, has been tracked making repeated appearances in the waters off the southeastern United States.
Following a series of ping events on December 11, it is clear that Kid has been roaming the waters southeast of St. Augustine, Florida. The nonprofit's satellite tracking system, which attaches tags to the dorsal fins of the sharks, has provided crucial information on Kid's movements... revealing a pattern of behavior that is typical of great white sharks.
Researchers note that Kid's movements during the winter months are consistent with those of other north Atlantic great whites, which migrate south in search of warmer waters and more abundant food sources. This seasonal migration is a well-documented phenomenon, where individuals from the colder waters of Canada and New England venture into the warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern United States.
According to OCEARCH's tracking data, Kid's movements in the Sunshine State and the Gulf of Mexico are not isolated incidents. The shark has made previous appearances in the region... including a notable sighting in the Florida Panhandle in 2023. The nonprofit has tracked Kid's movements during the winters of 2021 and 2022, highlighting the shark's repeated visitations to the region.
It is worth noting that great white sharks can grow up to 20 feet in length, "although most individuals are significantly smaller," "with adult females averaging 15-16 feet in length and males reaching a maximum of 11-13 feet." Kid's exceptional size is therefore all the more impressive, and his movements offer a unique glimpse into the migration patterns and behaviors of these apex predators.
Keji , a 9-foot 7-inch great white shark, tagged by the nonprofit research group OCEARCH , pinged southeast of St. Augustine on Dec. 11 at 10:50 p.m. OCEARCH tracks tagged sharks via satellite tags attached to their dorsal fins. When the tag breaks the water's surface long enough, a ping with location information is sent to trackers.
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