You're not gonna believe what they want to do in Maryland
Here's what people need to understand—my neighbors across the District line in Maryland are considering making the megalodon, that giant prehistoric shark, their state shark. Seriously. A bill is on the table to give the biggest shark that ever lived official status. I mean, I love a good fossil as much as the next person, especially if it's from Calvert Cliffs, but this is wild.
### Why a Megalodon?
So, why this particular ancient creature? The Calvert Marine Museum's curator of paleontology, Dr. Stephen Godfrey, is pushing for it. Maryland is actually known for its megalodon teeth finds, especially down in Southern Maryland.
* Megalodon teeth are common fossils along the Calvert Cliffs. * It would give Maryland a unique state symbol. * It certainly grabs attention, doesn't it?
This isn't just some random thought; it's rooted in the natural history of the Chesapeake Bay area. But still, a *shark*? The biggest one to ever terrorize the seas? It's just so… Maryland. It reminds me of the time they tried to make a new official state dessert, and everyone lost their minds over the Smith Island Cake versus some other contender. People get passionate about their state symbols.
### What This Means for the DMV
While it might seem like a bit of fun, these kinds of discussions always reveal a little something about how our neighboring jurisdictions see themselves. Maryland is leaning into its ancient, wild side, distinguishing itself from, say, our very specific D.C. identity. Imagine trying to pick a D.C. state anything that everyone could agree on. It would probably involve a half-smoke, a go-go beat, or maybe a cherry blossom, but definitely not a long-extinct shark. It’s just another reminder of the distinct flavors that make up the DMV.
That's the District, DMV — no vote, all heart.
My folks on the Morning Wire chat about stuff like this every day, betam. Catch them live at mornings.live.