Minimizing The Risk Of A Shark Bite
Here are a few common sense tips to avoid being bitten by a shark…
In the wake of recent reports of an 18 teen year old being bitten on the foot by a shark while surfing off of New Smyrna Beach (click here for story), we thought a few "anti-shark" tips might be in order.
First of all (just to put your mind at ease), being bitten by a shark is highly unlikely.
While Florida has been known as the shark-bite capital of the world, recently the Florida Museum of Natural History found that shark bites have taken a nosedive in 2018, an are 26% lower than the most recent five-year average, according to the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File.
Tyler Bowling, manager of the Florida shark research program at the Florida Museum of Natural History is quoted as saying,“There's a study that came out actually last week that says you're actually five times more likely to die taking a selfie than getting even bitten, forget dying, just bitten by a shark."
According to Bay News 9 there are a few steps you can take to minimize your chances even more:
- Studies show sharks do react to certain colors and shiny objects - Bowling says some studies have shown sharks react to certain colors. Yellow is one color of bathing suit to avoid. What sharks really go after are shiny objects, so avoid wearing jewelry while in the water.
- Avoid swimming at dawn and dusk hours - if you see shiny bait fish, stay away, that is what sharks are looking to eat.
So relax everyone and enjoy your 4th of July celebration.
