Bull sharks are extremely common in Mobile Bay, one of the Gulf’s most important shark nursery areas. Biologists with the Dauphin Island Sea Lab collected 57 baby bull sharks from the beach on Saturday.
Has there ever been a shark attack in Gulf Shores Alabama?
In Alabama, a vacationing teen says he wants to return to the Gulf of Mexico after being bitten by a shark in Gulf Shores April 12. Blake Berry, 17, was swimming with a friend in chest-deep water when he felt clamp-like pressure on his right foot.
Are sharks common in Gulf Shores Alabama?
Atlantic sharpnose sharks are very common in the coastal waters of Alabama and across the Gulf of Mexico.
How deep is the Mobile Bay?
Mobile Bay is 413 square miles (1,070 km2) in area. It is 31 miles (50 km) long by a maximum width of 24 miles (39 km). The deepest areas of the bay are located within the shipping channel, sometimes in excess of 75 feet (23 m) deep, but the average depth of the bay is 10 feet (3 m).
How common are shark attacks in Alabama?
In total, there have only been 12 shark attacks ever documented in Alabama, according to floridapanhandle.com. Four of those attacks were fatal.
Where is the most shark infested waters?
1. New Smyrna Beach, Florida. There have been more than 300 unprovoked shark attacks in Volusia County, where New Smyrna Beach is located. Florida, known as the Sunshine State, is “the shark attack capital of the world.” The state accounts for more than half of the total shark attacks in the United States annually.
How close can sharks get to shore?
According to most statistics, sharks can come as close as 100 feet from the coast. The Florida Museum of Natural History stated in this context that most shark attacks take place in 6 to 10 feet of water.
What kind of sharks are found in Mobile Bay?
Bull sharks are extremely common in Mobile Bay, one of the Gulf’s most important shark nursery areas. Biologists with the Dauphin Island Sea Lab collected 57 baby bull sharks from the beach on Saturday.
How many shark attacks have been in Gulf Shores?
102
There have been 102 reported shark attacks along Gulf Coast state since 1865. With data from the Global Shark Attack File, AL.com has plotted those attacks in the map below.
Is it safe to swim at Gulf Shores?
“There are absolutely safe places to swim, which are the front Gulf beaches. That’s where 90 percent of the people are,” DePaola said, referring to the beaches east of Fort Morgan, including Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Pensacola and along the Panhandle of Florida.
Can you swim in Mobile Bay?
We recommend that individuals always take appropriate precautions when swimming. Those precautions include not exposing open wounds to the water and washing thoroughly after leaving the water. Bacteriological testing requires a 24-hour incubation period.
Are there alligators in Mobile Bay?
Alligators have been reported in parking lots on the causeway that crosses Mobile Bay and along heavily traveled U.S. 98 in Daphne, CBS affiliate WKRG-TV reported, so the city posted notes on social media asking residents to be careful, particularly with pets.
What lives in Mobile Bay?
Mobile Bay is home to 49 species of mammals, 126 species of reptiles and amphibians, 337 species of fresh and saltwater fish, and 355 species of birds. Endemic species within the basin include 40 fishes, 33 mussels and 110 aquatic snails, as well as a number of turtles, aquatic insects and crustaceans.
What city has the most shark attacks?
1) Volusia
Volusia in Florida has a record high of shark attacks of any state in the US. Through history, 275 shark attacks have been recorded; the period between 2000 and 2015 accounts for 176 of those. Luckily, none was fatal.
When was the last time a shark killed someone?
Over more than two decades, 64 victims were attacked, of which 26 died. The last deadly attack occurred on 10 July 2021. The attacks were caused by the species bull shark and tiger shark. The shark attacks in Recife have an unusually high fatality rate of about 37%.
What is the shark bite capital of the world?
New Smyrna Beach
It is called “the shark bite capital of the world” because Volusia County, where New Smyrna Beach is located, records the most shark bites anywhere in the world. New Smyrna Beach, which boasts 17 miles of beautiful coastline, is located just south of Daytona Beach, Florida.
What is the shallowest water a shark can swim in?
And that’s fine. Everybody can make their own personal decision, but realizing that sharks can get into water as shallow as five of six feet deep is something that people need to realize.”
Where is there no sharks?
Barbados: Sharks
Rest assured that there are no sharks close to shore off Barbados and therefore no reports of any shark attacks. Some species of shark are caught out to sea by local fishermen.
How do surfers avoid sharks?
Survival tips for the surfer in shark-infested waters.
- Avoid Feeding Time. Dawn and dusk are prime feeding times for sharks.
- Keep Your Head on a Swivel.
- Avoid Deep Channels.
- Avoid River Mouths.
- Surf in a Pack.
- Don’t Wear a Lure.
- Stay Away From Dead Sea Life.
- Don’t Flail.
What to do if a shark is chasing you?
Slowly back away
Try not to thrash and splash around as you gradually swim backwards toward shore. “You must try and keep the animal in sight and very slowly and gently try and swim backwards and get into shallow water. Again, you’ve got to be careful — large sharks can attack in very shallow depths.”
What month do most shark attacks happen?
September
Attacks spike in September
In Florida, the U.S. state with the most shark attacks, September is the most dangerous month to be in the water, according to the International Shark Attack File. From 1926 to 2019, 103 attacks occurred in that month, compared to 61 in June, 73 in July, and 84 in August.