Shark season is here. One just popped up in a Rhode Island pond.

Rhode Island residents reported porbeagle shark sightings near Narragansett as warmer weather brought seasonal shark activity. Atlantic Shark Institute documented observations beginning Saturday afternoon at Salty Brine State Beach, where the shark was wedged in rocks by the breakwater, freed itself, and swam in circles. The shark later moved into shallow waters of Point Judith Pond and swam toward Billington Cove, where it beached and died Sunday afternoon. Researchers presumed the same shark was involved in both sightings. Porbeagles are common in New England because they prefer colder water, and the shark likely traveled north to follow cooling conditions. NOAA performed a necropsy and towed the carcass out to sea, and the shark was not considered dangerous to nearby people.

"The Atlantic Shark Institute, a local research nonprofit, documented several sightings over the weekend. Those observations led them to a porbeagle shark that beached itself and died Sunday afternoon, the organization said on Facebook."

"Witnesses said the shark was found wedged in rocks by the breakwater but eventually freed itself and swam in circles, according to Atlantic Shark Institute Executive Director Jon Dodd. The shark later ended up in the shallow waters of Point Judith Pond and swam towards Billington Cove, where it beached and died the next day."

"Researchers said they presumed that it was the same shark in both sightings. Porbeagles aren't an uncommon sight in New England waters compared to other types of sharks because they prefer colder water, according to Dodd. However, a porbeagle swimming that far into Point Judith Pond is a first for the Atlantic Shark Institute."

"Like many sharks, the porbeagle was likely making its way north to follow the colder water as summer approaches and temperatures rise. After it died, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) performed a necropsy and towed it out to sea. Dodd noted in a statement to Boston.com that the shark never presented a danger to the people who spotted it."

Read at Boston.com