Use tide as access context
A predicted low tide may expose more search area, but waves, weather, daylight, cliffs, and local closures still determine whether conditions are safe.
Photograph before heavy cleaning
Document the original surface and context before altering a find. Avoid destructive cleaning methods that remove useful evidence.
Compare multiple traits
A triangular crown alone is not enough. Support from several independent features produces a more responsible field assessment.
Protect precise locations
Share coordinates only when appropriate. Sensitive fossil sites, private property, and protected areas should not be exposed through a casual report.
Common mistakes to avoid
These shortcuts weaken the Shark Tooth Scout experience or create expectations the product is not designed to meet.
- Collecting where rules prohibit it
- Turning an app comparison into a formal taxonomic claim
- Hunting below unstable cliffs or in dangerous surf
- Uploading or sharing a private find location without considering the consequences
Build the next session from evidence
A strong field record preserves the find, documents the visible evidence, states uncertainty clearly, and can be reviewed later without relying on memory.
After each session, choose one thing to preserve and one thing to adjust. That small review keeps Shark Tooth Scout focused on its real purpose rather than turning the app into another collection of screens.
Make the photograph useful before trusting a suggestion
A photo comparison is only as informative as the visible evidence. Photograph a single tooth in focus against a plain background, with the root and crown unobscured. Add another view if it helps show the shape. Avoid dramatic filters, wet glare or a hand covering the edge. Include a scale reference when documenting size; a tight crop alone cannot communicate it.
Compare the suggested profile with the specimen rather than treating the first result as a confirmed species. Look for supporting, conflicting and missing clues. Broken roots, worn serrations and incomplete crowns can make several profiles plausible. Keep the record unidentified when the evidence is insufficient, and retain the original photograph so you can revisit the comparison later.
Separate finding advice from permission to collect. Check the land manager’s current rules, access restrictions and local conditions before entering a beach or removing an object. NOAA station predictions are planning context, not a guarantee of safe conditions at your exact spot. Do not enter dangerous surf or restricted areas for a better photograph.
The useful outcome is a repeatable field record: what you saw, the images supporting it, and how certain the comparison is. It is not an appraisal, authentication, guaranteed species determination or permission to sell. Remove precise location and personal details from any public screenshot unless you intentionally want them disclosed.
- Keep uncertainty in the saved notes.
- Preserve originals rather than only an annotated result.
- Seek qualified review when identification or provenance matters.
