Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Shark Attack!

On July 19th, 2011, six-year-old Lucy Mangum was bitten in the leg while she swam in 1 1/2 feet of water off the coast of North Carolina.  Here is the site with the news article: http://www.reflector.com/news/girl-describes-shark-attack-590721.

Now before we all vow off every entering the water again, do the research.  How often do shark attacks occur on humans?  Are sharks really man-eaters? What can one do to avoid such attacks?  (Be sure to include links to the sites were you got your information).  After doing this research, would you still go swimming?  Why or why not?  Once you have posted, review the postings of your classmates and respond to at least two.  This is a time for discussion (that is not the same as arguing).  Keep it civil-- not "blood in the water," so to speak. :)
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3 comments:

  1. Pickrell PiratesJuly 27, 2011 at 12:20 AM

    Living in Alaska, we have a VERY slim chance of being attacked by a shark. The fact that this was North Carolina plays a huge factor. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, there is a 1 in 11.5 million chance that you will be attacked by a shark. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/beachattacks.htm. However, they also warn that with more people swimming at the beach, there is a higher chance of an attack happening. Upon reading this article and watching the news interview, this family was warned not to swim after 5:30pm, because that was a very common time for sharks to come and feed. 5:30pm was precisely the time that they were swimming. The fact that the daughter was attacked, and not the father who was further out in the water, is probably attributed to the fact that she was on a boogie board. I have heard before that sharks sometimes mistake surfers with their limbs hanging over the side for turtles.

    Will I continue to swim? Personally, I would be very nervous swimming in warm waters simply because I am not familiar with the area. I get freaked out by sea grass beneath me in Alaska and sometimes experience a moment of panic when I see my own shadow at the bottom of a swimming pool! However, even though the chances of it happening are very slim, surviving a shark attack would be quite the story to tell. Good luck with recovery, Lucy!

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  2. AnonymousJuly 31, 2011 at 12:24 PM

    That is good to know...:) Thanks for the interesting information.

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  3. AnonymousAugust 12, 2011 at 1:37 AM

    @ Pickrell Pirates
    I don't think anything could keep me away from the water! If you do it right, the chance of being attacked by a shark is very unlikely. Like you said, the family went swimming at the wrong time. Life guards are posted there for a reason. However, I can respect your hesitation at entering the water. Who wants to have their vacation interrupted by a shark attack?

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