Thursday, February 17, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Current Event
The number of shark attacks in the past year have unfortunately increased, but oddly, they decreased in Florida, the shark capital of the world. The number has increased 25 percent from 63 to 79, with an above average amount of 6 fatal attacks.
Although Florida still led the US with 13 attacks, it is a great decline from the yearly average of 23. It appears to be a reflection of the poor economy, meaning less and less people are visiting the coastal areas for vacation.
The attacks are believed to be due to warmer water temperatures that came with the unusually hot summer. The attacks have also been attributed to the dead sheep dumped in the ocean as they passed away in transit, as well as divers feeding reef fish and even sharks.
Finally, many believe shark attacks can be avoided if people would just use common sense. It doesn't seem like that much to ask. If people wouldn't swim in fishing areas or inlets, the number of attacks would continue to decrease.
Although Florida still led the US with 13 attacks, it is a great decline from the yearly average of 23. It appears to be a reflection of the poor economy, meaning less and less people are visiting the coastal areas for vacation.
The attacks are believed to be due to warmer water temperatures that came with the unusually hot summer. The attacks have also been attributed to the dead sheep dumped in the ocean as they passed away in transit, as well as divers feeding reef fish and even sharks.
Finally, many believe shark attacks can be avoided if people would just use common sense. It doesn't seem like that much to ask. If people wouldn't swim in fishing areas or inlets, the number of attacks would continue to decrease.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Shark Attacks
There are as many as 100 shark attacks annually resulting in as many as 15 deaths, but not all shark attacks are reported, so there are likely many more. Naturally most attacks occur in near-shore water, because obviously, that is where the swimmers are, so this is a slightly skewed sample.
There are three different types of unprovoked attacks. A 'hit and run' occurs when a victim does not see the shark coming and it leaves immediately after inflicting a single bite. This is the most common because sharks may often mistake a human for there normal prey, and realizing they are mistaken, they take off. The next is called a 'bump and bite' attack. The victims of these attacks are typically divers. The shark bumps the swimmer prior to the attack as a sort of warning for the human to get out of their territory. After circling the victim, the shark moves in to attack. Finally is the 'sneak' attack, for which there is no pattern.
There are three different types of unprovoked attacks. A 'hit and run' occurs when a victim does not see the shark coming and it leaves immediately after inflicting a single bite. This is the most common because sharks may often mistake a human for there normal prey, and realizing they are mistaken, they take off. The next is called a 'bump and bite' attack. The victims of these attacks are typically divers. The shark bumps the swimmer prior to the attack as a sort of warning for the human to get out of their territory. After circling the victim, the shark moves in to attack. Finally is the 'sneak' attack, for which there is no pattern.
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