Shark falls from sky, lands in Virginia Beach family's backyard

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (KTRK) -- A home in an ocean front neighborhood has become the talk of the town after the family who lives there found a shark in their backyard.

The 13-inch dogfish shark, often referred to as a sand shark, was found in the middle of their wooded backyard.

"The kids found it, and they came upstairs and they were all excited and said, 'We found a shark in the backyard,'" Sue Bowser told WAVY-TV.

Bowser knows the shark didn't walk or swim there. She believes it fell from the sky, likely the result of a bird losing its grip on the shark.

"There's a little mark on his side where the talons probably went in, and it's a little bloody on the side where the talons had poked him," Bowser told WAVY-TV. "Hopefully not too many more will be falling from the sky."

Bowswer plans to keep the shark in the freezer for a few more weeks to show off to her friends. She hasn't decided if they'll then bury the animal or toss it out with the garbage.