Latest news with #sharkattacks
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
From Hawaii to Florida, a look at US shark attacks so far in 2025
Sharks attacked at least a dozen people in the United States so far this year, data collected by USA TODAY shows. The most recent reported incident took place on July 22 in South Florida, when a Canadian tourist was seriously injured and hospitalized after a shark bit him. According to USA TODAY Network tracking as well as data from the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) and 12 reported shark attacks have occurred so far this year in American waters. More than half took place in Florida, while the second highest number of incidents happened in South Carolina, data shows. So far, none resulted in death. "This year's numbers do not look particularly unusual at least thus far," Florida Program for Shark Research Director and ISAF spokesperson Gavin Naylor told USA TODAY. Here's how many shark attacks the U.S. has seen so far in 2025, including when and where they occured. Florida (7) Florida leads all 50 states with the highest number of attacks (7) reported so far this year. July 22 (3 p.m.): Hollywood A tourist was injured and hospitalized in South Florida after a shark bit him. The Canadian was in chest-deep water with a friend when a fish jumped over his head and he was immediately attacked by a shark, Hollywood Fire Rescue and Beach Safety said. July 19 (time unknown): West Palm Beach A 69-year-old photographer survived a shark bite after he approached a 5-foot shark, while diving with friends in the Jupiter Inlet, The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. The shark was caught in a fish stringer about 20 feet deep in the ocean. As he tried releasing the shark, another diver bumped into it, and the shark bit the man's right forearm. July 18 (12 p.m.): New Smyrna Beach An 18-year-old surf instructor suffered injuries to his foot while surfing, Volusia County Beach Safety reported. The man was paddling to a sandbar when he attempted to jump and push his board over a wave when he was bitten. July 6 (3 p.m.): New Smyrna Beach A 40-year-old man was bitten by a shark on his right forearm as he swam in the ocean, Voulsia County Beach Safety said. The man was transported for medical treatment with non-life-threatening injuries, the Daytona News-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. June 11 (12:11 p.m.): Boca Grande A 9-year-old girl snorkeling with her siblings and her dad was attacked by a shark and suffered a hand injury. She was taken by medical helicopter to Tampa General Hospital to receive emergency care. May 27 (time unknown): South of Pompano Beach A 32-year-old woman snorkeling near the pier off Lauderdale-by-the-Sea was bitten by a shark, according to NBC Miami. The outlet reported she was in waist-deep water when she spotted bait fish swimming nearby and a shark grabbed her left arm. She was treated at a hospital. April 13 (12:34 p.m.): Cocoa Beach A 12-year-old boy suffered a knee injury in a suspected shark attack near the Cocoa Beach Causeway, the Daytona Beach Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. The boy was airlifted to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando. Officials later said the cut could have been caused by his surfboard. Shark attack: American bit by shark boating in The Bahamas South Carolina (2) June 22 (12:10 p.m.): Sea Pines Beach Less than one week later, a teenager was bitten in the same area and also suffered a leg injury, the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. According to ABC News and Fox News, the attack took place at Coligny Beach Park. June 17 (12:07 p.m.): Sea Pines Beach A 12-year-old girl was bitten on the leg in waters off the south end of Hilton Head Island, local officials said. The girl was transported to Hilton Head Island Airport, where a medical helicopter flew her to a Savannah facility for further treatment. New York (1) June 26 (4:15 p.m.): Long Island A 20-year-old female in shallow water off Jones Beach State Park was injured, data shows. The woman suffered minor cuts to her left foot and leg when she was likely bitten by a shark, The New York Times reported. She was taken to a hospital to be treated. Bahamas shark attack: 2 American women attacked Bimini district North Carolina (1) May 28 (11 a.m.): Sunset Beach in Brunswick County The Sunset Beach Fire Department reported crews responded to the beach just south of Ocean Isle Beach for a report of a person who suffered a leg injury swimming near 31st Street in a suspected shark attack. The swimmer, a 26-year-old man, was taken to a medical facility to be treated for his injuries. Hawaii (1) Jan. 11 (1:40 p.m.): Town of Haleiwa on Oahu A tour boat employee in Hawaii suffered a shark attack on the island's North Shore. Hawaii News Now reported the 23-year-old man was hospitalized to be treated for serious injuries. Puerto Rico shark attack: Former NBA player's pregnant wife bitten How many shark attacks took place in the US last year? According to International Shark Attack File(ISAF), 28 people were bitten in unprovoked attacks last year in U.S. waters. Of those who encountered sharks, one person died. According to the odds of being killed by a shark in the U.S. are more than 4 million to 1. How many people die from shark attacks every year? Each year, according to ISAF, run by the Florida Museum of Natural History, the world averages 65 documented shark attacks annually. On average, six fatal attacks are reported each year, according to ISAF. Last year, 47 people were bitten in unprovoked attacks. Bahamas shark attack: American bitten by shark while boating How to reduce risk of a shark attack Never swim alone. Don't swim at dawn or at dusk. Don't enter waters where people are fishing. Skip wearing shiny jewelry. It can catch the sunlight and glint, much like fish that sharks prey upon. Avoid splashing. It generates sounds similar to struggling fish, which can attract sharks. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How many shark attacks in the US in 2025 so far? See list
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Are there sharks in Delaware waters? Yes, here's what you need to know
Fifty years ago, the first summer blockbuster made people wonder if it's safe to go in the water. "Jaws" was nightmare fuel for people who enjoyed going to the beach but wondered if the apex predator was lurking in the blue void. Fast forward 50 years, and sharks are still roaming the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean. However, there isn't much of a reason to fear going in the water. How many shark attacks have happened in Delaware? Since 1837, there have been five shark attacks in Delaware waters, according to the database at the University of Florida. The biggest period for shark attacks was in the 1960s when two were reported in Delaware. The last two attacks were a 14-year-old boy who was hospitalized after a shark bite at Cape Henlopen State Park in June 2020, according to a Delaware Online/The News Journal story from 2021. That bite was likely from a sandbar shark, a state expert said. In 2014, another teen was bitten by a shark, also at Cape Henlopen State Park. How many sharks are in Delaware? According to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, as many as 62 species of sharks can be found in the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware Bay and inland bays. Included in the 62 is the great white shark. The great white, which has terrorized people ever since the movie "Jaws" was released in 1975, is the least common species found in Delaware waters. What are the most common sharks in Delaware? Sandbar shark According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the sandbar shark, also known as a brown or thickskin shark, can grow up to 8 feet long and weigh up to 200 pounds. The sandbar is among the largest sharks found in coastal waters. They live in shallow coastal waters and can be found on the East Coast from Cape Cod to Florida. Dogfish shark There are two varieties of the dogfish shark – smooth and spiny. Spiny dogfish can grow up to 4 feet and have two dorsal fins with ungrooved large spines. Smooth dogfish sharks can grow to 5 feet. They live in shallow bays, continental shelves and near offshore banks. Sand tiger According to Oceana, the sand tiger shark lives near the seafloor in surf zones, shallow bays and coral and rocky reefs. They can grow to more than 10 feet and weigh 350 pounds. The sand tiger shark is the only shark known to maintain neutral buoyancy by gulping air at the water's surface and holding it in its stomach. This allows the sand tiger shark to hover motionless in the water. Atlantic mako shark According to Oceana, the Atlantic mako shark lives in the open ocean and reaches lengths of 12 feet and weights at least 1,200 pounds. It is one of the fastest fish on the planet, swimming at speeds around 45 mph. These sharks are caught commercially or accidentally in fisheries. These sharks are valued for the high quality of their fins and meat. Hitting the beach: Are Delaware beaches safe for swimmers? Here's what the numbers say How to avoid sharks Again, once you enter the ocean or Delaware Bay, you are in their world. So here are a few tips from the DNREC and the County of Maui, Hawaii: Swim at lifeguard-monitored beaches, and follow their advice and any posted warning signs. Always swim in a group. Don't stray too far from the shore. Swim in water where you can see your feet. Avoid the water at dawn, dusk and at night. Don't enter the water if you have any open wounds or are bleeding in any way. Don't wear shiny objects in the water. Leave the water quickly and calmly if a shark is sighted; if you see a shark, alert lifeguards or other swimmers immediately. SHARK WEEK: Learn about the TV event and its copycats If you watch What: Discovery Channel's Shark Week When: Through July 26, starting at 8 each night Where: Airs on the Discovery Channel and streams on Discovery+ and HBO Max This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Which sharks are in Delaware waters. How to stay safe Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
06-07-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Rockaway Beach shark sightings keep swimmers out of water on 4th of July weekend
Within the past several days over the 4th of July weekend, numerous shark sightings along New York beaches have kept swimmers temporarily out of the water. Officials say they have been monitoring the waters for sharks, including a stretch of Rockaway Beach in Queens where swimmers were temporarily ordered out of the water due to sightings. The sightings have taken place several times since Thursday. Rockaway Beach shark sightings On Saturday around 6 p.m., drone teams spotted a shark just 100 feet from swimmers near Beach 113. The sighting spanned Beach 113 Street to Beach 115. The Office of Emergency Management quickly shut down the beach and alerted anyone in or near the water. Friday on the 4th of July, there were two sightings at Rockaway Beach before noon, according to city officials. They say a shark was seen around 11:30 a.m. near Beach 32nd Street and another was reported at Beach 144th Street. A third was reported near Beach 30th Street, prompting a portion of the beach to close for an hour. For now, the city says they will constantly patrol the beaches with drones to detect shark activity and distressed swimmers. Is Rockaway Beach open? Rockaway Beach is set to be open on Sunday. City officials say they will make any necessary closures as the day goes on. Data from 2024 shows shark attacks are rare, with only 28 unprovoked shark bites and one person killed in the United States last year. In late June, a woman was bitten in the waters off Jones Beach by what experts say was likely a juvenile sand tiger shark.
CBS News
03-07-2025
- General
- CBS News
Will beachgoers in New York and New Jersey be safe from sharks this summer?
Millions are expected to head to beaches across New York and New Jersey this Fourth of July weekend, but will they be safe from sharks? Last week, officials said a woman was likely bitten by a shark at Jones Beach, prompting precautions. There will be more drones, plus lifeguards on the lookout, but, as they say in "Jaws," those beaches will be open. Still, with this incident — and the 50th anniversary of the classic shark attack film — on their minds, some beachgoers are wondering, are sharks a bigger problem? CBS News New York's Dick Brennan asked experts for this edition of "Question Everything." Data shows shark attacks are rare across U.S. Experts say there's more marine life in the water, including sharks, in part because waters have gotten warmer and they're not as over-fished as they used to be, so the chances for an encounter are greater. But Joe Yaiullo, curator and co-founder of the Long Island Aquarium, says humans are not on the menu. "If we were, the sharks would be lining up off of Jones Beach and Robert Moses and just waiting for these millions of people to go in the water," he said. "So any incident that usually happens is an inquisitive incident. A shark doesn't have hands to feel with, so they're going to mouth something. They get a lot of tactile information by mouthing something." CBS News New York The most recent statistics from 2024 show attacks are rare. There were just 28 unprovoked shark bites and one fatality in the entire United States last year. "Many more people die of bee stings. Many more people die driving to the beach," Yaiullo said. Teen surfer undeterred after shark encounter off Fire Island Eighteen-year-old Maxwell Haynes, of Islip, knows what it's like to encounter a shark firsthand — or in this case, foot. "It was terrifying. It was like a primal fear I can't even describe," he said. Three summers ago, Haynes was surfing at Kismet Beach off Fire Island when he got the surprise of his life. "Out of nowhere, I just got bit in my right leg," he said. Haynes said he knew right away it was shark. Maxwell Haynes, 16, is carried off the beach after getting bitten by a shark in July 2022. CBS2 "I freaked out. I started kicking and then it just let go after a few seconds," he said. Haynes was bit in water that was just 4 feet deep. "My foot probably just looked like any other fish," he said. The attack, or encounter as experts like to say, ended fast; the shark swam off, and Haynes, who was just 16 at the time, recovered quickly. The incident hasn't scared him away, though. He's now a lifeguard and an EMT, and he's still surfing, even around sharks. Dick Brennan goes diving with sharks Brennan decided to get his own up-close encounter. He entered the Long Island Aquarium's shark tank in a large cage alongside dive expert Barry Lipsig. Seven sharks, including some sand tiger sharks, were inside the tank, but they seemed oblivious to the divers, minding their own business. CBS News New York's Dick Brennan took a dive in a shark tank at Long Island Aquarium in 2025. CBS News New York Experts say sharks don't want to bite humans, but they'll sometimes nip at swimmers and surfers, and even that can be dangerous. "If you're in the water and you do see that fin, could be a shark fin. Safest bet is just get out of the water," Yaiullo said. So what's the best way to avoid sharks? Experts say don't swim at dawn or dusk, and don't swim around large schools of fish or seals.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Know Before You Go: Why These Beaches Are Considered The Most Dangerous In The US
It's probably no surprise that the top 10 most dangerous beaches in the U.S. are in Florida, according to a 2025 analysis. While the Sunshine State is known for its dozens of beautiful, white, sandy beaches, it also gets the highest number of hurricanes and shark attacks. Those are two of the main factors that the tide and weather forecasting platform, Tideschart, used to analyze 528 beaches across the United States. The other major factor was surf-zone deaths. The surf zone is where waves begin to break as they reach the shore, deaths are often caused by three hazards in that zone: Rip Currents - these strong, narrow currents create a high-speed channel that can rip you out to sea. High Surf - large, powerful waves churned up by swells from a distant storm. Sneaker Waves - large waves that suddenly swamp the shore, taking people by surprise and sweeping them out into deeper water. (MORE: 2025 Hurricane Season Outlook) Each beach in the top 10 has experienced 126 hurricanes, but the destination with the distinction of the number 1 spot had a staggering number of shark attacks. Here are the top 10: 23 Shark Attacks 5 Surf Zone Deaths 19 shark attacks 6 Surf Zone Deaths 0 Shark Attacks 10 Surf Zone Deaths 35 Shark Attacks 7 Surf Zone deaths 39 Shark Attacks 7 Surf Zone Deaths Indialantic Beach is a favorite with surfers, but the 8-foot swells that attract them also make this beach especially risky. It's had nine surf-zone deaths and 30 shark attacks. Miami Beach may be Florida's most famous beach but surf conditions have caused 14 deaths and there have been 17 shark attacks. The powerful currents at Daytona Beach, on Florida's Atlantic Coast, are blamed for 27 deaths and there have been 67 shark attacks Just two miles west of Panama City Beach, Daytona Beach had the highest number of surf-related deaths - 39, with nine shark attacks recorded. South of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach had more shark attacks than all the other 9 beaches combined. 277 encounters were recorded there, in addition to 12 surf-zone deaths. And while this list may seem like a beach bummer, there's no need to abandon your seaside plans. Just remember to stay aware, pay attention to high-surf and other flagged warnings and stay informed during hurricane season.
