More Shark Attacks Have Been Reported In New York

Multiple people appear to have been attacked by sharks in New York State over the past few days...

Photo byRichard Ling via Wikimedia Commons

Multiple people appear to have been attacked by sharks in New York State during the past few days. According to local news reports by NBC News, yesterday's attacks occurred approximately sixty miles apart on popular beaches in Long Island. However, it's important to note that all victims survived.

On Monday, a teenager sustained puncture wounds in the water off Robert Moses State Park in Babylon, New York. She was treated at the scene by paramedics, and local authorities launched drones to monitor the waters. According to NPR, approximately 50 sharks were spotted in the water off Long Island by the drones. They were also identified as probable sand tiger sharks, which can grow up to 10.5ft long. However, sand tiger sharks are not usually aggressive, and don't normally attack humans, per National Geographic.

It's worth noting that "sand sharks" is a catch-all name for species including the sand tiger or gray nurse shark, according to National Geographic. "Sand tiger sharks, also known as gray nurse sharks, have a deceivingly ferocious look. They are large-bodied and display a mouthful of sharp teeth that protrude in all directions, even when the mouth is shut. Despite this, they are a docile, non-aggressive species, known to attack humans only when bothered first."

Another recent incident in New York occurred at Quogue Village Beach - where a 47-year-old man felt a bite to his right knee. According to a statement by Quogue police, a shark was not physically seen by the man. However, the bite was consistent with a larger marine animal. “Police have notified all surrounding beaches of the marine life activity, and are encouraging patrons to stay out of the water until the situation can be further assessed,” the statement continued.

After numerous shark attacks in New York State last year, local officials have increased patrols of the ocean to warn swimmers of sharks in the vicinity. "We want to make sure swimmers are safe," said Long Island State Parks Regional Director George Gorman in an interview with Newsday. "We did have a season last year where we had six swimmers bitten from sharks, so this has turned into a bit of a concern," said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison.

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