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Newsweek
13 hours ago
- Science
- Newsweek
11ft Great White Shark Just Spotted off Long Island Coast As Summer Nears
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As summer approaches, a juvenile great white shark named Dold has today been detected off the Long Island coastline, marking the latest milestone in a months-long migration that has taken him up the U.S. East Coast. While beachgoers are planning trips to the shore to enjoy the good weather, but many will be thinking about what lurks in the water, and the latest data from trackers at OCEARCH gives an insight to shark behaviors. First tagged by researchers from OCEARCH in February near the Florida–Georgia border, Dold weighs 761 pounds and measures 11 feet 2 inches from tip to tail. His most recent position, recorded in the early hours of June 20, places him off the coast of Long Island, some 80–120 miles offshore—near the Hudson Canyon, a common corridor for migrating sharks. This is Dold's first ping since May 21, when he was detected in the Florida Gap off the coast of Port St. Lucie, Florida. Since being tagged, Dold has covered an estimated 2,875 miles in just under four months, demonstrating the far-reaching seasonal migrations juvenile white sharks undertake in search of prey and suitable water temperatures. OCEARCH, a global nonprofit that tags and tracks marine life for scientific study, monitors sharks like Dold to better understand their behavior, travel patterns, and environmental needs. Their insights also help inform public safety along populated coastlines. A file photo of a great white shark off the coast of False Bay, South Africa. A file photo of a great white shark off the coast of False Bay, South Africa. AlessandroShark Activity off the U.S. Coast As summer heats up and crowds return to U.S. beaches, the movements of sharks like Dold serve as a seasonal reminder of increased shark activity near shorelines. Spring and summer months bring warmer waters, which white sharks favor as they move north for feeding and breeding. Great white sharks are found along both the East and West Coasts of the United States. According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF)—which is maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History—the U.S. leads the world in the number of unprovoked shark bites each year. In 2023, the U.S. reported 36 unprovoked shark bites, including two fatalities. Florida had the highest number (16 in 2023), followed by Hawaii, California and New York. Despite this, fatal shark attacks are extremely rare. Between 2013 and 2022 there was an average of just one fatal shark bite per year in the U.S., compared with tens of millions of people entering the water annually. By contrast, Shark Guardian estimates approximately 100 million sharks are killed globally each year, including being intentionally targeted for fishing as well as those caught by bycatch in fishing nets. Other Sharks on the Radar Lower down the Atlantic seaboard, another shark continues to make waves: Contender, currently the largest great white shark tracked by OCEARCH. A huge 1,653 pounds and 13 feet 9 inches, contender has been pinged several times this year, most recently on June 7 in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina. Though Dold and Contender are impressive in size and range, the record for the largest great white ever reliably documented remains with Deep Blue—a massive female shark estimated at 20 to 21 feet long and weighing around 5,000 pounds. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about sharks? Let us know via science@
Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Girl, 9, speaks out after shark attack left her hand 'almost completely gone'
Leah Lendel, 9, emerged from the water with her hand hanging 'by a thread' after she was attacked during a family snorkelling adventure off the coast of Florida A bave nine-year-old girl has recalled the horrific moments her wrist was bitten off during a terrifying shark attack in Florida. Little Leah Lendel had been snorkelling off the sore of Boca Grande, about 100 miles south of Tampa, with her influencer mum Nadia and her siblings on June 11. But what was supposed to be a fun family day out turned into very parent's worst nightmare when a shark brutally attacked Leah. Bystanders said an 8ft bull shark bit off Leah's hand down to the wrist. When Leah emerged from the water, she was covered in blood. Thankfully, nearby construction workers were close by and assisted by making a tourniquet out of a beach towel as the family called 911 for help. Leah's father, Jay Lendel, said on Thursday that emergency responses arrived in about three minutes. Tello and his co-workers had been on a lunch break when they heard Leah's screams. They rushed into the water, though at first they did not know she had just been attacked by a shark. Construction worker Alfonso Tello told local outlets: "When we see that little girl come out from the water with no hand, it was like something out - it gets me. Everybody was in shock. Leah was airlifted to Tampa along with her dad and underwent emergency surgery in a bid to reattach her hand. Now, Leah has spoken out for the first time about the terrifying attack. Speaking to Fox Orlando she said: ""I was just snorkeling, and then I went up to breathe, and then something hard bit me, and then it tried to tug me away." She continued, "Then I picked up my hand, and it's all in blood. Then I started screaming with my mum and then my dad was with me, he picked me up and then we ran to the road." At the press conference Leah's dad explained: "I was trying to hold myself together, I think I was crying more than she was," he added: "I'm just very greatful she's alive" Nadia added: "Leah was about three to four foot away from me, she had gone under and as she was coming up I heard this yell or scream and I saw the fling of the arm and it was almost completely gone. "There was so much blood in the water right next to me and in that instant I knew it's a shark attack, I mean I didn't expect it but I've seen documentaries before we've seen encounters, I knew you know." According to the International Shark Attack File, bull sharks are historically responsible for at least 100 unprovoked attacks on humans around the world. Of those, 27 are understood to have been fatal. The Florida Museum said: "It's large size, proclivity for freshwater, abundance and proximity to human populations, particularly in the tropics, makes it more of a potential threat than is either the White shark or the Tiger shark." Florida has regularly topped global charts for the number of shark bites. In 2024, 14 cases, none of which were fatal, were recorded in the state.
a day ago
- Health
9-year-old girl recounts moment she was bitten by shark while snorkeling in Florida
A 9-year-old girl who was bitten on the hand by a shark in Florida is speaking out about the terrifying moment she was attacked. Leah Lendel was snorkeling near Boca Grande on June 11 when "something hard bit me and then tried to tug me away," she said at a news conference Thursday alongside her parents and the doctors who treated her. "Then I pick up my hand and it's all in blood," Leah said. "Then I started screaming with my mom." "There was so much blood in the water right next to me," Leah's mom, Nadia Lendel, said at the news conference. "In an instant, I knew it's a shark attack." "I just started to scream to my husband," Nadia Lendel recalled. Meanwhile, Leah's "instincts kicked in" and she ran out of the water, her mom said. "Then my dad was with me," Leah said. "He picked me up and we ran to the road." Leah's parents expressed their gratitude for the construction workers who were eating lunch on the beach and immediately ran to help them call 911 and put Leah's arm in a tourniquet. Leah's dad said EMS then responded within minutes. Tampa General Hospital doctors praised the first responders for choosing to fly the two hours in the helicopter to their hospital where they said they had the expertise to help Leah within the six-hour window to save the tendons, tissue and muscle. Doctors said they operated on Leah's hand less than an hour after she came through the hospital doors. At the hospital, "I was trying to hold myself together," said Leah's dad, Jay Lendel. "I think I was crying more than she was." Tampa General Hospital Dr. Alfred Hess said luckily a shark bite is not jagged, but leaves a clean cut on the wrist that doesn't ruin all the tissue. First Leah's bone was stabilized and then doctors said they worked on blood flow. Some blood vessels were taken from Leah's leg to help get blood flow back to her hand, the doctors said. Leah will next undergo physical therapy, her doctors said, and eventually the pins in her hand will be removed. "I'm just thankful for everybody," Jay Lendel said. "I'm just very thankful she's alive." Meanwhile, another shark bite was reported on Tuesday on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The victim suffered a non-life-threatening injury to the leg and was airlifted to a hospital in Savannah, Georgia, according to the Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue. There were 28 unprovoked shark bites in the U.S. last year, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File. Florida recorded the most with 14; South Carolina had two.
Forbes
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Jaws Anniversary Coincides With Real-Life Shark Sighting In Rhode Island
Basking sharks, despite their size, pose no threat to humans. They have tiny teeth, no interest in ... More large prey, and spend most of their time following plankton blooms. Just in time for the 50th anniversary of 'Jaws,' a real-life shark sighting had New Englanders channeling their best 'shahk in the pawnd' impressions this week. The moment unfolded at the end of last month near Block Island, Rhode Island; it was here, in the calm waters of the Great Salt Pond, that diners enjoying a seafood meal at Dead Eye Dick's spotted something unusual slicing through the surface. A pair of unmistakable dorsal fins. Phones came out, videos were taken, and soon even the NGO Atlantic Shark Institute was sharing the footage of the sizable animal online. The organization, which monitors shark activity throughout the region, joked about the parallel to the infamous movie and invited the public to guess what kind of shark had found its way into the sheltered saltwater lagoon. Speculation quickly flooded the comments. Guesses ranged from great whites to sand tigers to makos. But the truth was far less dramatic and dangerous. In the video, the silhouette looked imposing, and anyone unfamiliar with shark species could understandably assume it was something dangerous. The shark, as confirmed later by the institute's executive director Jon Dodd, was a basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus). Enormous, yes, as they are the second largest fish in the ocean after the whale shark. But dangerous? Not quite. They're filter-feeders, cruising through the ocean with mouths wide open to scoop up plankton, not people. A 20-foot basking shark made an unexpected appearance in Rhode Island's Great Salt Pond, stirring ... More memories of Jaws but posing no danger. The one in the Great Salt Pond was around 20 feet long (just over 6 meters), making it relatively modest for its species, which can grow over 40 feet (12 meters) in length. Still, seeing an animal that size in a place where people typically kayak, swim, and anchor boats is enough to give anyone pause. 'The size of these sharks, the height of the dorsal fin, and how they move can be a real attention getter!' said Dodd to a local outlet. 'They can look quite a bit like a great white shark at a glance, or from distance, and that can put people into a panic and justifiably so based on where you might be at the time (think in the water!)' Basking sharks, despite their size, pose no threat to humans. They have tiny teeth, no interest in large prey, and spend most of their time following plankton blooms. And yes, they can look eerily similar to great white sharks, especially if your only reference is the iconic 1975 Spielberg film. 'The good news? They've never been implicated in any bite on a human being, as noted in the International Shark Attack File. They are endangered in some parts of the world and considered 'vulnerable' here in the U.S.,' ASI explained. While the scene may have triggered some instinctive unease, experts were quick to clarify there was no cause for concern. 'Sharks are arriving in Rhode Island daily,' the Atlantic Shark Institute continued in a Facebook post, 'as water temperatures continue to rise and more and more species of shark find them suitable to their liking.' This is part of a larger trend tied to climate change and warming ocean temperatures, which are shifting where marine animals spend their time during the summer months. It's no surprise then that basking sharks, which are normally seen off the coast in deeper waters, are making occasional detours into shallower inlets like Great Salt Pond. Fortunately for any nervous swimmers, the shark didn't linger. By the next day, it had likely found its way back out to open water, leaving only ripples (and viral footage) in its wake. As we mark the anniversary of 'Jaws,' it's worth recognizing how far we have come as a society. Fifty years ago, a scene like this might have ended in alarm and calls for the removal of the individual (likely leading to a grim end for the shark in question). Today, it ends with a Facebook post, a science lesson, and a bit of local pride. After all, not every summer hotspot gets a visit from one of the ocean's true giants.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How can you avoid being bitten by a shark? What to know before swimming in Florida waters
With the anniversary of the most iconic shark flick coming up this month, some might be worried about accidentally making their own "Jaws" when heading to the beach this summer. June 20 will mark the 50th anniversary of the blockbuster 'Jaws," inspiring an entire generation to fear these overlarge fish, particularly great white sharks. For decades, scientists have stressed that shark attacks are considered very rare and the stereotypic characterizations of sharks in media are often filled with misinformation. An annual report by the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) shows 47 confirmed unprovoked shark bites globally in 2024, with 14 in Florida. According to Tracking Shark, there have been three total shark attacks in the U.S. this year, with one involving a 12-year-old boy in Cocoa Beach, Florida. However, officials later said the laceration on his knee may have been caused by the fin of his surfboard instead of a shark. Florida has one of the largest year-round concentrations of sharks. Scientific data from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission shows that many shark species migrate in and out of Florida's waters each year. Here's how you can keep your family and yourself safe when visiting the state's beaches this summer (or anytime). Sharks usually stay within a range of 60-100 feet from shore; however, Florida Museum of Natural History research has found that most shark attacks occur within 6 to 10 feet of land. According to the International Shark Attack File, a worldwide database of shark attacks, September has the most frequent unprovoked attacks by sharks on Florida beaches. Since 1926, roughly 17% of unprovoked shark attacks in Florida have happened in September. According to ISAF, the county with the most shark attacks in the state is Volusia County, which is the 'Shark Bite Capital of the World' and home to beaches like Daytona, New Smyrna and Ormond Beach. The ISAF says the shark species responsible for most unprovoked bites on humans are the white, tiger and bull. However, the University of Florida notes that all sharks, regardless of size, are predators and could be capable of inflicting wounds if provoked. The FWC's guide to sharing the water with sharks says there's no surefire way to avoid a shark bite, but you can reduce your chances of being bitten. Most recorded shark bites are unprovoked, according to ISAF. 'Every year, millions of tourists and residents visit Florida's beaches and waterways, and these beaches and waterways will more than likely contain sharks,' the FWC says. 'According to experts, while there are no guaranteed ways to avoid shark bites, understanding shark behavior could help you make better decisions on when and where to swim.' Of the 88 shark-human interactions that ISAF investigated in 2024, 47 were unprovoked and 24 were provoked. The other 17 cases included boat bites, a shark-inflicted post-mortem bite ('scavenge') and several others were unassigned or classified as 'unconfirmed.' ISAF defines unprovoked bites as incidents where a human who didn't interact with or provoke a shark was bitten. According to ISAF, provoked bites include 'instances when divers are bitten after harassing or trying to touch sharks, bites on spearfisherman, bites on people attempting to feed sharks, bites occurring while unhooking or removing a shark from a fishing net and so forth.' Stay in groups, since sharks are more likely to bite a solitary individual. Don't wander too far from shore, which isolates you and places you far away from assistance. Avoid being in the water in the dark or during twilight hours, when sharks are most active. Don't get in the water if you're bleeding from an open wound or if menstruating. A shark's ability to smell blood is acute. Avoid wearing shiny jewelry in the water. When light reflects off of shiny jewelry – especially under the water – it resembles the sheen of fish scales and might make you look like shark food. Avoid waters with known discharges or sewage and waters used for any type of fishing – especially if there are signs of bait fish or feeding activity. Diving seabirds, which frequently feed on bait fish, are good indicators. While there are myths and anecdotes about dolphins saving humans from shark bites, the presence of dolphins doesn't mean there aren't sharks in the water – both often eat the same foods. Use extra caution when the water looks murky. Remember that sharks see contrast particularly well. Uneven tans and bright-colored clothing or swimsuits could draw a shark's attention. Try not to splash and thrash around in the water, as this may draw a shark's attention. Don't allow pets in the water: their erratic movements may draw a shark's attention. Be careful when swimming in the area between sandbars or near steep drop-offs are some of the sharks' favorite places to hang out. Swim only on beaches with lifeguards on duty. Don't get in the water if sharks are known to be present, and get out of the water if sharks are sighted. Never harass a shark. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Shark bites in Florida: How many attacks happened in 2024? See tips
