New York is experiencing more shark attacks in record numbers. A teen surfer was recently bitten off the coast of Long Island, New York. This attack was the sixth attack in the area over the last three weeks. As a result, the state of New York is taking safety measures, including more hours for lifeguard and the first ever drone patrols for sharks.
"We are taking action to expand patrols for sharks and protect beachgoers from potentially dangerous situations," Hochul said in a statement. "I encourage all New Yorkers to listen to local authorities and take precautions to help ensure safe and responsible beach trips this summer."
The 16-year-old was able to walk away from the attack with only a minor injury to his foot, according to New York Magazine, but his incident is the latest in a string of attacks that have affected
swimmers, lifeguards and other surfers along Long Island’s southern coast.
Dead Great White Shark Found Onshore
A dead great white shark washed ashore on a Long Island beach recently, according to the Quogue Village Police Department.
The shark was reportedly between seven and eight feet in length. The shark was spotted on the Ocean Beaches in the village of Quogue, according to a the above Facebook post by the Quogue Village Police Department.
Why So Many Attacks?
According to the statistics on Petpedia, the odds of getting bitten by a shark are 1 in 3,748,067. So what is going on with so many attacks in an area? There are several things to consider.
First, people are going into the water in record numbers this summer, especially in New York.
Second, experts say shark encounters are becoming more common due to the success of conservation efforts in recent years. Cleaner water and more fish in the water means more sharks, therefore more shark attacks.
Lastly, it could be an external factor, such as an increase in seals or even a change in water temperature. Since we know that there are great whites off shore from the photo above, and great whites need a lot of food to survive (over 66 lbs a day!), clearly right now New York is a shark hot spot.
What do you think?
Are you getting in the ocean this summer?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
Comments / 90