Sand tiger sharks can grow up to 10 feet in length, but juveniles average 3 to 5 feet. These sharks are intimidating in appearance, but are not known for unprovoked attacks on humans.
Loic Venance / AFP via Getty Images
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Loic Venance / AFP via Getty Images
Sand tiger sharks can grow up to 10 feet in length, but juveniles average 3 to 5 feet. These sharks are intimidating in appearance, but are not known for unprovoked attacks on humans.
Loic Venance / AFP via Getty Images
A series of five shark attacks in two weeks on New York’s Long Island probably made many Northeast beachgoers hesitant to wade into the water.
But the sharks aren’t targeting humans – they’re after fish.
According to Florida’s Shark Research Program Director, Gavin Naylor, a sand tiger shark nursery located just off Long Island’s shores and numerous nearshore baitfish could explain the string of unwanted encounters close to this.
The sand tiger shark is one of the scarier-looking creatures lurking beneath the ocean’s surface. It can grow up to 10 feet long and has a set of jagged teeth protruding from its jaws.
However, for sharks, this large fish should not cause alarm.
The sand tiger is a relatively docile shark that wants nothing to do with humans. Attacks are almost always carried out by smaller juveniles accidentally biting someone while chasing fish.
“Off the coast of Long Island there are a lot of baby sand tiger sharks, a lot of them, and we usually don’t have any problems with them. But as you may have heard reports, a lot of bait fish – bunker (menhaden) – actually closer this year and more,” Naylor said. … It is a statistical fact that sharks do not target humans. If they did, we would have about 10,000 bites a day. “
Scientists from the New York Aquarium of the Wildlife Conservation Society announced the discovery sand tiger shark nursery off the south coast of Long Island in 2016. This may explain why encounters, such as five in the past two weeks, have not resulted in life-threatening injuries, Naylor said.
Adult sharks are significantly larger and capable of dealing more damage in the event of an attack, but they are also more mature and less likely to mistake humans for food.
What to do if you see a shark
After saying all that, there are some Additional precautions What you can do to avoid encountering unwanted sharks: don’t swim between dusk and dawn; do not enter the water alone; avoid flashy jewelry, which can be mistaken for fish scales; Do not enter if you have an open wound.
If you’ve completed your due diligence and are still facing a shark, the best thing you can do is stay calm – easier said than done. Naylor told the shark not to take your eyes off it. Move on purpose, while observing sharks, and return to shore.
And if the shark gets too close to be comfortable – or it tries to bite you – protect yourself. Your best bet is to punch or kick the shark in the nose or gills.
Having said all that, our fear of sharks is a bit disproportionate, says Naylor. The chance of being bitten by a shark is less than 1 in 4 million, According to the International Shark Attack Record. In fact, you are 10 times more likely to die from fireworks.
“You’re probably 200 times more likely to drown in the ocean than you are to be bitten by a shark,” Naylor said. “And I think people don’t worry about drowning.”
