Experts say not to worry despite 2 separate shark attacks on Florida panhandle

TAMPA, Fla. — A number of swimmers had been injured following two separate shark assaults on the Florida panhandle final week.

The primary assault occurred on Friday close to a sandbar on Watersound Seaside. A forty five-year-old girl was together with her husband when she was attacked.

She wanted a part of her left arm amputated and suffered “vital trauma” to her midsection.

A second assault occurred about 90 minutes later and about 4 miles away.

Two youngsters had been attacked at Seacrest Seaside. One woman suffered vital accidents to her hand and leg and was taken to an area hospital. The opposite teen suffered minor accidents to her foot.

Eric Hovland, an animal care specialist with The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, mentioned the chance of being bitten by a shark stays extraordinarily low.

“After we’re out within the water, splashing about, we’re sending out alerts. Sharks are available in to research what we discover is that they name it a check chew. When a shark is available in, they do not have palms, so they’ll really feel that setting with their tooth,” mentioned Hovland. “It is an exploratory chew. One other method of making an attempt to find out is that basically meals, and I feel the reply isn’t any as a result of when an individual is bit, sometimes, the shark is nowhere to be seen. It is typically not recognized.”

The Florida Museum of Pure Historical past’s Worldwide Shark Assault File investigated 120 alleged shark-human interactions worldwide in 2023.

Florida had essentially the most unproved shark bites in the US in 2023.

In Florida, Volusia County had essentially the most shark bites (eight), representing 50% of the state’s whole. Of the eight remaining bites, two had been in Brevard County, two in St. Lucie County, and one every occurred in Miami-Dade, Palm Seaside, Escambia, and Pinellas counties, in line with the Worldwide Shark Assault File.

“Be sure you’re not by your self, do not exit too far, watch out round construction or the place you may see fish shoaling. They wish to go alongside the place shallow turns into deep shortly, is likely to be the place small fish are, sharks could also be looking there,” mentioned Hovland.

You might also decrease your threat by avoiding the water at daybreak and nightfall.

Consultants additionally counsel refraining from extra splashing and never permitting pets within the water due to their erratic actions.

Additionally, train warning when occupying the realm between sandbars or close to steep dropoffs. These are favourite hangouts for sharks, in line with the Worldwide Shark Assault File.

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