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On January 22, 2022, 42-year-old Heather West was snorkeling near an uninhabited tropical island of Loggerhead Key when a 6-foot lemon shark grabbed her foot and it became another Florida shark attack. 01/22/22 Liam snorkeling when they disturbed a wobbegong shark. READ: Rare shark usually found in freezing Arctic waters spotted in Caribbean coral reef for the first time. There are a lot of things that can influence how much time we spend in the water, and where. Conservation efforts have brought back the once overfished bait fish that sharks feed on, Hueter says. September 8, 2022 Kevin McMurray. CDFW scientists reported they had not determined a size estimate for the shark. Our goal, to share the worlds unique, hidden and once in a lifetime locations with you to create unforgettable memories. Other tips to avoid the risk of being bitten by a shark are to stay close to shore, dont swim around schools of fish or where people are fishing, and avoid swimming at dusk or dawn. Although Bethea faces a long recovery, the teen is optimistic about ultimately returning to the water. The combination means the number of people at beaches in Florida continues to grow quickly. While there has been a steady rise in global shark attacks in the last 30 years, the numbers appear to be leveling off. Sharks then visit the area to feed on the high numbers of baitfish. Bethea is scheduled to undergo a scheduled amputation Tuesday after the shark latched onto the upper part of her right leg,CBS Miamireported. Florida dad Brett Reeder is back on the waters after a shark bit his finger during a family fishing day off the Summerland Key on July 17.. A now-deleted TikTok video shows Reeder leaning over the edge of the boat and wrestling with the shark in shallow water. Earlier this week, great white shark researchers on Cape Cod warned visitors that warmer weather signals not just the start of the busy tourist season, but also thearrival of the regions famous predators. Florida was also the location leader in shark bites globally with 16 bites. The teen spoke from her hospital bed in Tallahassee a day after the attack. If youd like to learn more about shark bites, as well as how to avoid them, be sure to read: Jim Fulcher has been a writer and editor his entire career. "Some rules to follow are: never swim alone, do not enter the water near fishermen, avoid areas such as sandbars (where sharks like to congregate), do not swim near large schools of fish, and avoid erratic movements while in the water.". Changing the environment such that sharks are drawn to the area in search of their natural food source might prompt them to bite humans when they otherwise wouldnt.. Addison Bethea has always been an athletic girl. However, at this time of year, they are usually further north, meaning they are likely not the culprits. Whats more, its still highly unlikely beach goers in the area will be bitten by a shark. In fact, in 2021, there were 28 unprovoked shark bites in Florida compared to 19 shark bites in the rest of the U.S., and 26 outside of the U.S., according to data published by the Florida Museum of Natural History in its annual International Shark Attack File (ISAF). When this happens the news stories get amplified, generating the false perception that 'things are different this year.' Meanwhile, on Saturday, another man was bitten by a shark off the coast of Jacksonville Beach. CNN. Jameson Reeder Jr. was snorkeling in a shallow reef in the Florida Keys with his parents, his two brothers, and his sister "when a very traumatic event occurred," the child's uncle Joshua Reeder wrote on Facebook Sunday. Shark assaults are common in the Sunshine State, which accounts for 40% of all bites worldwide. ISAF had only recorded 12 unprovoked bites in New York's history prior to 2022. Shark attack survivor Addison Bethea and her brother Rhett Willingham spoke to CNN from her hospital bed on Monday, July 4. Thats when bites occur.. Those incidents are truly bites, not attacks where the animal is trying to do mortal harm, Hueter said. Most shark bites take place in and around surf zones. Published on July 8, 2022 12:33 PM. Right now, he's using crutches and a walker and says it'll likely be months before he can walk again. Lindsay French, manager of the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida, gives tips about what to do if you are bitten by a shark. 2023 www.gainesville.com. The attack occurred near Grassy Island just off Keaton Beach. Taylor County Sheriff's Office reported the . So he decided Emergency responders treated the severely injured girl on the beach before she was airlifted to a Tallahassee hospital roughly 80 miles away. Additionally, sharks may be moving north as climate change and rising sea temperatures push their prey north in search of cooler waters. Primary Menu Sections Skip to search results . Through concerted fisheries management effort and fishery efforts, sharks are rebuilt, so numbers are going back up.. Jameson Reeder Jr (left, in blue) was on vacation with his family in Florida Keys. her on Twitter@nataliealund. A teen bitten by a shark off the coast of the Florida Panhandle last week is recovering in the hospital and surrounded by her family. March 3 (UPI) -- The Interior Department said Friday that it was taking new steps to restore the declining American bison population. The shark species remained unknown Friday, but it wasdescribed as being approximately nine feet long. The swimmer, a62-year-old Monterey man, suffered significant injuries from the shark bite, and was taken to a hospital, police said. "We were scalloping for about two hours and we went to the last spot, obviously for only like 15 minutes, and we were going towards the boat and I felt like a tug," she said. GiveSendGo.com . 0:00. Thanks for contacting us. The man, who is from New Jersey, was bitten while fishing in waist-deep water at New Smyrna Beach, Florida, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal. The teen was taken by medical helicopter to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and was in surgery around 6 p.m. Thursday,said sheriff's office spokesperson GinaDeeson. appreciated. Addison Bethea, a 17-year-old from the nearby city of Perry, was scalloping in shallow waters off the coast of Keaton Beach on Thursday when a shark suddenly approached and bit her. However, despite this, shark bites are rarely fatal, and remain relatively rare. He's one of the three people in Florida who've been attacked by sharks in the last week. None of Floridas 16 unprovoked bites were fatal, but two likely from bull sharks required medical treatment resulting in amputations. Most of these migratory animals will be approaching, if not at, the northernmost part of their range, Hueter said. Recounting details about the incident during a recent interview at the hospital where she is currently receiving treatment, Bethea explained how her older brother, firefighter Rhett Willingham, managed to fend off the shark and provide emergency medical support after pulling her to safety. Last year, about 60% of all unprovoked shark attacks in the United States -- and almost 40% of all attacks worldwide -- occurred in . By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Please enter valid email address to continue. This story has been shared 170,718 times. You may opt-out by. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A 33-year-old man is recovering after he was bitten on the foot by a shark off the coast of Daytona Beach. The California Department of Fish and Wildlifes confirmed the fish that attacked the man was a Great White Shark. Of these . My goal was to get out of the beach," Olivares said. At least 10 people have died in the wake of a severe weather system bringing fierce winds, damaging tornadoes and flash flooding to the U.S. South and Midwest. South Africa, which averages a few bites a year, had two unprovoked attacks in 2022, both of which were fatal and likely caused by white sharks. Shark attacks increased around the world in 2021 following three consecutive years of decline, . Heather West, 42, was snorkeling with friends Jan. 22 off Loggerhead Key in the Dry Tortugas National Park. "This is one of those places where the increased number of people in the water leads to an increased opportunity for mistaken identity to occur," Schreiber said. Secondly, going to the beach is an increasingly popular activity. The Taylor County Sheriff's Office shared a statement on Facebook from the victim's father, who said his daughter had a vein removed from her left leg and suffered nerve damage. Contact Christopher Cann at ccann@tallahassee.com and follow @ChrisCannFL on Twitter. Before 2022, there were only 12 recorded unprovoked bites in New Yorks history, including four from the past decade, according to the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History. A list view of 2022 shark attack bites based on the date of the incident. The International Shark Attack File places a strong emphasis on unprovoked bites in its annual report and does not highlight attacks that may have been prompted by mitigating circumstances, such as fishing lines cast in the direct vicinity of the incident or the presence of chum in the water. Discovery Company. Addison Bethea, 17, was seriously injured on June 30 when she was bitten . Australia had nine confirmed unprovoked bites, and single bites occurred in New Zealand, Thailand and Brazil. WILL GREENLEE/TCPALM, Tallahassee couple came across FAMU's Marching 100 while in Paris, Leon County judge rules Floridas 15-week abortion law unconstitutional, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 0:00. There are enormous aggregations of animals dashing around the surf at times, Hueter said. Over the course of numerous trips, Jim has driven an RV through West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. While the numbers represent an increase from 2020, when fewer people went to the beach amid the pandemic, they are still on par with the most recent five-year average of 72 incidents annually. Neither authorities nor witnesses have been able to confirm the species of shark that attacked Bethea, although people who saw it happen later estimated that the animal was roughly 9 feet long. 37. There is a nursery for sand tiger sharks located off Fire Island along the southern shore of Long Island. She was airlifted to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and was in surgery around 6 p.m., said TCSO spokesperson Gina Deeson. "They've been there all along. A relaxing day at the beach quickly took a turn for 33-year-old Bryan Olivares. And beach season for New Yorkers coincides with the time when most shark species head north for cooler water. In contrast, the National Weather Service estimates approximately 270 people in the U.S. are struck by lightning each year. According to the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File, there were a total of 57 unprovoked bites in 2022, most of which occurred in the United States and Australia. "It was scary, because I didn't know what happened. His favorite national park is Yellowstone, which he has visited three times. Published: Feb. 28, 2023 at 10:07 AM PST. article ul li { list-style: disc; padding: 5px 0; } When you enter the water, remember that there's always a risk of a shark encounter, along with other predators. A stock photo shows a shark and a swimmer. Its just a matter of education, us adapting to the ocean going back to the way it should be becoming wild again, he said. The odds may be against being bitten by a shark, but at the same time, it certainly makes sense to take steps to further decrease those chances. Officials said she'd lost part of her leg. What lies beneath coastal waters? "It's a miracle she survived this and I know if Rhett hadn't been the one that was with her when it happened we may be in a very different scenario right now.". Florida was the shark bite capital of the globe, with 16 unprovoked attacks documented there last year . Marine coasts and estuaries are a favorite feeding ground for a variety of fishes, which take advantage of the tides to scope out new food and rummage near the shallow seafloor for plants and invertebrates, the ISAF continues. "I'm out of danger. Only one attack was reported on the database in 2022, and Krebs . Data from the University of Florida has revealed that there were 57 unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2022, with only five of them fatal, while there were 73 in 2021 with nine deaths. "I stood up to turn around and see what was going on because it sounded like something scared her," he said. Most of these are relatively small, he said. A teenager who was in hospital to have her right leg amputated on Tuesday after a shark bit her off Florida's coast said she . For example, a video off of the coast of California that shows a 12-foot-long Mako shark refusing to release a fish tied to rope. And thats going to drive more people to the water than ever before, which just simply increases your probability of somebody getting accidentally bit, said Christopher Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach. . Comments. Judge sentences Alex Murdaugh to life in prison without parole, Gasoline prices steady, but that might not last the weekend, Merrick Garland makes secret trip to Ukraine. Small sharks feeding on the schools of fish will test bite a persons hand or foot but usually quickly let go. March 7, 2022 Kevin McMurray. That is, amazingly, 72% of the total worldwide attacks for . The U.S. had only a single unprovoked fatality, which occurred late in the year when a snorkeler went missing along Keawakapu Beach in Maui, Hawaii. She had to have her leg amputated following the attack. The siblings' mother, Michele Murphy, praised Willingham and called her daughter's survival " a miracle. All Rights Reserved. Last year, about 60% of all unprovoked shark attacks in the United States -- and almost 40% of all attacks worldwide -- occurred in Florida. In Florida, where the majority of US shark attacks happen, people were nearly 21 times more likely to die in a tornado (125 deaths) than a shark bite (six deaths) between 1985 and 2010. The ISAF lists a number of suggestions to reduce the probability of being bitten by a shark, including to avoid splashing in open water because sharks may mistake that activity for a struggling fish. When people are in the water, all pushed up close to shore. He was wading in waist-deep water with his dad off the coast of Daytona Beach last Monday when he says a shark bit his foot. While the numbers seem daunting to some, they pale in comparison to other threats. But these annual number fluctuations can vary and are common, based in the variability in oceanographic, socioeconomic and meteorological conditions. The exact species of shark responsible for each of these attacks is not clear. Trump legal team requests six-month delay in New York civil lawsuit. 10 Sharks Near Central Florida Beaches WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Beachgoers are more likely to be injured or killed by coastal features like rip tides and strong currents than sharks, according to the World Health Organization. Hueter says that as our oceans become healthier, beachgoers may have to adjust to more sharks in the water. And the 2022 confirmed unprovoked case number is lower than the most recent five-year (2017-2021) average of 70 incidents annually. In 2021, Florida remained the top state in the number of shark bites, with 28 reports. The group released its annual report this month and found 73 documented attacks last year, a stark contrast from 2020s total of 52. Sweltering hot temperatures this summer means more people and sharks at the beach. "I didn't really know exactly what to do, but I knew that . None of these incidents were fatal. There were five fatal attacks, down from nine in 2021 and ten the year before. Published: 22:37, 7 Jul 2022; . Isnt a bite well, just a bite? The ISAF team investigated 137 alleged shark-human interactions in 2021 to confirm the 73 unprovoked bites and an additional 39 provoked bites. Some shark species often dwell in very shallow waters close to the shore, where tourists swim. There were 32 additional bites in 2022 that fit the ISAFs criteria for having been intentionally or unintentionally provoked. Volusia County has an annual average of nine unprovoked shark attacks per year. July 1 (UPI) -- A teenage girl has lost her leg, but is alive, after she was attacked by a shark along the coast in northwestern Florida on Thursday, authorities said. 0:34. Sharks Florida Shark Attack Swimming. CDFWreportedthe victim was expected to recover. The girl was wading in 5-foot waters in Taylor County around 3 p.m . Theres reason to believe juveniles are more prone to bite, because theyre less experienced and may feel more threatened because theyre smaller, Hueter said. "Swimmers and scallopers are cautioned to be alert, vigilant, and practice shark safety," the incident summary added. The good news is that, while there are more shark bites in Volusia County than anywhere else in the world, most arent serious. The teen was seriously injured and was flown to a hospital in Tallahassee about 80 miles away. SHARE. | 27018 Views | 11 min read. Find more information at www.trackingsharks.com Youre far more likely to get involved in a fender bender driving to New Smyrna Beach, said Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History, according to Spectrum News 13. The man was taken to a hospital for treatment of his non-life-threatening injuries and was expected to survive, the Orlando-based television news station WOFL reported. The group was at Little Africa Reef, which is 70 miles away from Key West.. ORLANDO, Fla. Florida is once again the shark bite capital of the world as numbers jumped globally after three years of declines, according to the annual update from the International Shark Attack File. That represents 60% of all unprovoked attacks across the U.S. As of August 16, there have been 32 shark .