A massive great white shark was patrolling the waters just off Alabama’s coast in January — and now, off the coast of Mississippi.

Around the middle of January, the 12-foot, nearly 1,000-pound female shark, known as “Ernst,” was detected off the coast of Gulf Shores, Alabama, after her satellite tag pinged, researchers said.

That location a few weeks ago marked one of the westernmost points recorded for a great white shark in the Gulf and was considered unusual behavior, researchers told news agency SWNS.

MASSIVE GREAT WHITE SHARK RETURNS TO FLORIDA WATERS AFTER EPIC YEAR-LONG ATLANTIC JOURNEY

The ping placed the shark near the Chandeleur Islands, a chain of barrier islands in the Gulf of America off the coast of Louisiana.

Researchers said the shark’s proximity to shore was notable and that it falls outside what they typically observe for great white sharks in the region.

OCEARCH, a U.S.-based marine research group, tagged Ernst in October 2025 in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

After the tagging, Ernst began a long coastal migration, traveling thousands of miles from Canadian waters along the U.S. East Coast.

“She cut right over to lower Maine from Nova Scotia, migrated right down the coast, and has moved around Miami and the Keys and all the way beyond the Florida Panhandle,” Chris Fischer, founder and expedition leader of OCEARCH, told SWNS.

Fischer said Ernst’s movement westward is rare for great white sharks in the Gulf.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

“She has really moved into one of the farther parts of [where] we see them moving west,” Fischer said. “[For] the majority of the sharks, this is pretty far reach.”

Great white sharks are selective about where they travel, he added — tending to move through areas with abundant marine life.

“It’s kind of unusual to see her so tight to the beach there, which is a great sign for the region because this is a signal that there’s a lot of life and a lot of biodiversity,” Fischer said.

Ernst’s travel log on the OCEARCH site as of Sunday, Feb. 1, indicates the female shark pinged again on Jan. 30, around 6 a.m. that day, south of Horn Island off the Mississippi coast. (Researchers are able to note her location when the tag on her dorsal fin breaches the surface of the water, as noted on the site.)

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“Ernst the shark carries forward [a] spirit of connection, resilience and teamwork that keeps both island life and ocean research moving forward,” the organization says on its site as it continues tracking her. 

OCEARCH tracks other great white sharks across the Atlantic and Gulf of America using satellite tags.

The female shark pinged again on Jan. 30.

Advertisement

Fox News Digital recently reported that Contender, the Atlantic’s largest recorded male great white shark, returned to Florida waters in January 2026, one year after being tagged.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

After traveling as far north as the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the 14-foot, 1,700-pound shark resurfaced in warmer coastal waters, a movement researchers said could be tied to great white shark mating activity.

The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Jan. 31, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Jan. 31 drawing

01-03-08-21-32

Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from Jan. 31 drawing

Midday: 6-8-7, FB: 5

Evening: 8-1-9, FB: 0

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from Jan. 31 drawing

Midday: 5-2-9-1, FB: 5

Evening: 1-5-0-0, FB: 0

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Jan. 31 drawing

Midday: 07

Evening: 14

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Story continues below gallery.

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.

Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:

Mississippi Lottery Corporation

P.O. Box 321462

Flowood, MS

39232

If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.

Mississippi Lottery Headquarters

1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100

Flowood, MS

39232

Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.

When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?

• Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
• Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
• Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
• Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).

PEARL, Miss. (WLBT) – The Mississippi Forestry Commission is assisting counties affected by the recent winter storm and will begin evaluating tree damage across the Magnolia State.

According to officials, MFC has deployed dozers and saw crews, totaling 37 personnel, as part of its response efforts supporting the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

These crews are providing road-clearing assistance in Tippah County, Holmes County, and Carroll County, officials added.

“The Mississippi Forestry Commission stands ready to assist our local partners during significant weather events,” Randy Giachelli, MFC’s Fire Chief, said in a statement. “Our crews are doing our best to help communities recover safely.”

MFC officials said the agency plans to conduct both aerial surveys and on-the-ground evaluations in order to determine the extent of the damage caused by the winter storm on Mississippi’s forests.

Not only does ice accumulation on trees – causing limbs or entire trees to break and fall – pose a serious threat to public safety, but it also increases the amount of debris and can even elevate wildfire risks when the weather conditions dry out.

“Studying the impact of this ice storm is critical to understanding both the immediate damage and the long-term effects on Mississippi’s forests,” stated Garron Hicks, MFC Assistant Forest Management Chief. “Many of these trees were already under stress from the 2023 drought and pine beetle activity. Ice damage compounds those issues, increasing tree mortality and limiting future management options. These assessments help us provide landowners with accurate information and guide decisions related to salvage, reforestation, and long-term forest recovery.”

MFC encourages the public to contact their local forester for forestry-related questions or assistance or visit the MFC website for more general information.

“Our mission doesn’t end when the storm passes,” Hicks added. “We will continue working to understand the impacts, support recovery, and help keep Mississippi’s forests and communities safe.”

Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it and include the headline of the story in your email.

Copyright 2026 WLBT. All rights reserved.