CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. - A 14-foot great hammerhead shark washed ashore on the north end of Carolina Beach, North Carolina, on Sunday. According to the North Carolina Shark Conservancy, the female shark was first reported through the organization’s hotline around 3 a.m. after locals spotted the animal in the surf multiple times. The North Carolina Shark Conservancy said that due to the shark’s size, volunteers worked with multiple agencies, including the Carolina Beach Fire Department and the Carolina Beach Police Department, to safely handle the animal’s removal and disposal. ATLANTIC SHARK INSTITUTE TAGS ITS FIRST-EVER HAMMERHEAD SHARK OFF COAST OF RHODE ISLANDGreat hammerhead sharks are the largest species of hammerhead sharks and belong to the family Sphyrnidae, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. In the western Atlantic Ocean, great hammerheads range from North Carolina south to Uruguay, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean regions.