It’s the end of May, school is out, and if you’re one of the few people like me with a very limited social life and a very hectic work schedule, you’ll be inside the house all day just trying to pass time in preparation for the fall semester, a time when it’s almost acceptable to have no life outside of work and school. However, if you’re not like me (and that’s probably majority of the country), there’s a good chance you probably spent the entire spring semester in the gym pumping heavy weights or eating nothing but granola bars getting ready for the summer. More specifically, the beach and your perfect beach body, that is if your perfect beach body isn’t Zac Efron’s. There is another thing we should potentially prepare for this summer, and that’s shark attacks.
Mary Marcus, 57, was bitten on Sunday afternoon by a shark in Vero Beach, Florida. The shark bite on her thigh was a non-lethal one, and according to officer Anna Carden, Ms. Marcus is in stable condition at Indian River Medical Center. The shark attack didn’t cause an uproar though, as hundreds of people reportedly still stayed in the waters after the incident, giving the indication this is a fairly rare occurrence with the last shark bite in Florida happening over Christmas holiday.
But is this really cause for no alarm? According to National Geographic, Volusia County, Florida, different from Indian River County where Ms. Marcus was attacked, has had at least 176 shark attacks since 2000, all non-fatal. Of the top eight counties in America with the most shark attacks since 2000, four are in Florida, and three of the top four highest shark attack counties are in Florida. Is this only Florida’s problem though? Other states with high prevailing shark attacks are Hawaii and South Carolina. Why? Because warm-weather water climates serve as restaurants for sharks and swimmers are the main course. Or, in Ms. Marcus’ case appetizers, since she was pretty unhurt, just leaving with a nibbled thigh. However, this should be even scarier if you’re on the east coast where inshore sharks like bull and tiger sharks tend to stay closer to shore in more shallow waters, perfectly positioned to attack vacationers on a swim.
So should you go to the beach with a harpoon this summer in case a suspicious shark is plotting on your flesh and bones? Probably not. Should we be worried about a possible increased number of shark attacks since sharks do better in warmer climates and as we all know the planet this year has been seeing record breaking heat? Maybe a little. As for me over here in New York where we’ve only seen two shark attacks since 2000, both non-fatal, I might go to Coney Island once or twice to soak my feet in the sands. Nonetheless, to my Floridians really planning to beach it up this record breaking heat summer, you’ve been warned.
