A juvenile great white shark washed up at a Quogue beach Wednesday, according to the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Village of Quogue police say the shark washed up at a beach on Dune Road. It has since been carried out to sea and appeared to be drifting westward.

The Quogue Police Department has an officer stationed along the beach to watch for it. They are in contact with the South Fork Natural History Museum Shark Research and Education Program.

If found, the shark would be secured for sample collection and a necropsy.

The DEC says the shark was approximately 7 feet in length.

Tim Carbone, manager of Surf Club of Quogue, says a photo of the shark popped up on his text chain with other beach managers around 9:30 a.m.

"It's kind of cool to see it - it's sad that it died," Carbone says. "And unfortunately, the reaction is crazy - everyone's nuts about it."

Carbone says the great white could have got caught in a fishing net or been hit by a boat.

Shark expert Tobey Curtis says great whites are common for the area in terms of the weather.

"There's a lot of 4- and 5-foot long juvenile great white sharks that spend all summer out on the South Shore," Curtis says.

Curtis says smaller great whites stick to eating schooling fish, squid and bottom feeders.

"They are really not interested in biting people like surfers," Curtis says. "And even if a surfer were to come across one - chances are there would be no interaction - so there's really no cause for concern."

Swimmers and boaters are still being cautioned about the ongoing situation, to be aware of their surroundings and allow law enforcement to monitor the situation.

Quogue police say anyone who spots a shark should contact them.