Venice Florida Shark Tooth Hunting

04/10/2026

GATOR MATING SEASON IS BEGINNING. If you’re in SW Florida during spring/early summer, it’s the time to be most cautious around any freshwater.

11/01/2025

Shark teeth are found in Venice, Florida — often called the “Shark Tooth Capital of the World” — because of a unique combination of geology, ocean currents, and ancient history. Here’s why:
1. Ancient Ocean Floor:
Millions of years ago (during the Miocene and Pliocene eras), most of Florida — including Venice — was underwater. Sharks lived in abundance in those warm, shallow seas and shed thousands of teeth over their lifetimes.
2. Fossilization:
When the sharks died or lost teeth, the teeth sank into the ocean sediment. Over millions of years, the minerals in the sediment replaced the organic material in the teeth, turning them into fossils.
3. Erosion and Sea Level Changes:
As sea levels rose and fell, layers of fossil-rich sediment shifted. Wave action, storms, and currents gradually eroded parts of the seafloor, uncovering the fossilized teeth and washing them toward the beaches.
4. Geologic Formation (Peace River Formation):
The Venice area sits near the Peace River Formation, a fossil-rich layer of limestone and sand that contains ancient marine deposits. This formation continuously releases fossils, including shark teeth, into the Gulf of Mexico.
5. Coastal Currents:
The Gulf currents naturally carry these teeth toward the Venice coastline, especially around Caspersen Beach and Venice Beach, where the water movement helps concentrate them.

🦈 Fun fact: Most teeth you find there are from ancient species like megalodon, tiger sharks, and bull sharks — not from modern sharks.

01/23/2025

Mark your calendars. April 12-13, 2025, Centennial Park, 200 West Venice Avenue. Venice, Florida.@

03/24/2024

Alligator mating season is here. Some people from out state may not understand the dangers so please take time and educate yourself and your family members before you enter Florida. Your pets could also be in danger. Play safe and you will be fine.

There are several things you should keep in mind as the weather warms and alligators begin their mating season.

03/02/2024

Lots of visitors ask the question of other places in the state you can find shark teeth. Hope this helps!

The warm water of the Palm Beaches attracts tons of sharks. The teeth they leave here make for some of the best shark tooth hunting in the state.

01/17/2024

With a guide this is a great adventure. There are gators in those waters.

Dig For Prehistoric Treasures At This Former Historic Transportation Route Along Florida's Peace River! > https://familydestinationsguide.com/prehistoric-treasures-peace-river/

05/22/2023

The 2023 sea turtle nesting season in Florida is off to a great start!

The preliminary statewide nest totals as of April 30th are as follows:
🥚 1,288 loggerheads nests (640 in 2022)
🥚 3 green turtle nests (1 in 2022)
🥚 608 leatherback nests (800 in 2022)
🥚 6 Kemp’s ridley nests (1 in 2022)

Thanks to all the FWRI partners involved in an outstanding community science effort to document sea turtle nesting activity statewide!

Please report sea turtles that are sick, injured, dead, entangled or are in danger to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline (888-404-3922). Check out our most recent post to learn how you can help nesting turtles: https://www.facebook.com/FWCResearch/posts/615676847259485

04/26/2023

Sea turtle nesting season takes place from May 1-Oct. 31 on Southwest Florida beaches. On nesting beaches, light from waterfront properties can disorient nesting female turtles and their young, which emerge at night and use dim natural light to find the sea. Also, beach furniture, trash and other ob...

04/23/2023

The Venice Sharks Tooth Festival is set for Saturday and Sunday