FLORIDA — Just so you know as you head to the beach and look forward to getting in the water for this Fourth of July holiday weekend, a shark attack really is highly unlikely, and there are steps you can take to minimize your chances even more.
- Studies show sharks do react to certain colors, shiny objects
- Avoid swimming at dawn and dusk hours
- More Science stories
While Florida is the shark attack capital of the world, the Florida Museum of Natural History found in their most recent study incidents in Florida waters declined by nearly half in 2018.
"The odds of that happening are astronomical,” said Tyler Bowling, who manages the Florida shark research program at the Florida Museum of Natural History. “There's a study that came out actually last week that says you're actually five times more likely to die taking a selfie than getting even bitten, forget dying, just bitten by a shark."
So what can you do to reduce your chances even more?
Believe it or not, Bowling said some studies have shown sharks do react to certain colors. Yellow is one to avoid, although studies are still inconclusive.
What sharks really go after is shiny objects, so avoid wearing jewelry while in the water.
Bowling also pointed out that color patterns might actually repel sharks because they think the patterns are associated with poisonous marine life, such as a lionfish.
Other things you can do include avoiding swimming at dawn and dusk hours and if you see shiny bait fish, stay away — it's what sharks are looking to eat.