Focus at Four: Experts discuss recent shark bite activity on the coast

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - There have been several headlines recently and stories of shark bites along U.S. coastlines.

Just last month, there were two reported attacks, less than two hours and 5 miles apart along the Florida Panhandle.

Thursday, several reports surfaced of shark bites on South Padre Island.

Kesley Banks, a researcher at Texas A&M, Corpus Christi, joined First News at Four on Thursday and said that most encounters involving bites are cases of mistaken identity.

“When we enter into the ocean, we are entering into the shark’s home, their environment. More people into the water, more likely of an encounter or a bite. Sharks do something called bump and bite when they’re looking for food. They don’t have thumbs or hands, and so they explore their environment with their mouth. They’re looking for something that’s moving in the water. They usually take that exploratory bite,” she said.

Banks said that if you want to avoid an encounter, there are steps you can take to minimize that risk.

“First and foremost, you should avoid fishing near or swimming near anybody that’s fishing. You should also avoid wearing flashy jewelry or shiny clothes. You should also try to avoid splashing. I know that’s not necessarily the best advice for people at the beach, you want to go have fun and splash. Splashing can make us look like prey. If you are anywhere near a shark and you happen to see it, just calmly exit the water. Like I said, they’re not looking for us. We’re not on their menu,” she said.

Banks mentioned that if a bite does happen in an area, avoiding that part of the water for a while is best.

“It’s probably best for everybody to just remove from the water to give that area some time and let the sharks pass on through,” she said.

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