Researchers track shark off NC coast

Off Cape Hatteras, N.C. (WAVY) - A Great White Shark weighing in at more than 3,000 pounds and 16 feet long is being tracked off the Carolina Coast  --- and appears to be heading our way.

The shark, known by the researchers that found her as "Mary Lee" rounded Cape Hatteras Wednesday.

Mary Lee was captured in September of the coast of Cape Cod.  Scientists attached an advanced transmitting device to the shark's fin and released her back into the ocean.  Since then a satellite has been tracking her movement up and down the east coast and people throughout the southeast are following the shark's movement through an online-site known as the "Shark Tracker".

"They are loving on Mary Lee down there. They are following her. They're engaged by her. They're wondering where she's gonna go. They're trying to solve the puzzle of her life just like the PHDs are. We've inspired the explorer and the scientist in all the people down there and I think that is because they have such a great relationship with the ocean in the Southeast," OCEARCH Founder Chris Fischer said.

OCEARCH is the research company tracking Mary Lee.

Watch WAVY.com's full interview with Fischer.

Click here to continue tracking Mary Lee.