A drone video captured a great white shark lurking in the waters of a vacation spot in the Northeast. 

Police in Scarborough, Maine, which is located just south of Portland, confirmed this week that the shark was spotted off the state’s coastline. 

“The town shared on its Facebook page that on Monday, August 11, 2025, Scarborough’s Marine Resource Officer was informed about the sighting of what seemed to be a sizable shark close to Richmond Island and Scarborough Beach.”

“Follow-up observations were conducted, and on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, the Marine Resource Officer obtained drone video footage showing a possible great white shark, estimated to be 10–12 feet in length, off the southern end of Richmond Island in the vicinity of Higgins Beach and Scarborough Beach,” it added. 

Town officials said the drone video was taken “off the southern end of Richmond Island in the vicinity of Higgins Beach and Scarborough Beach.” (David Lancaster)

The Maine Department of Marine Resources says on its website that “while the relative risk of a shark encounter is very small, risks should always be minimized whenever possible in any activity on the water.” 

It recommends that swimmers stay close to shore, avoid areas where there are seals or schooling fish and limit splashing. 

The Scarborough Police Department estimated that the shark is 10 to 12 feet in length. (David Lancaster)

“Avoid shiny jewelry when in or on the water” and “Avoid swimming at dawn/dusk when lighting is low,” the Department adds.