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Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
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Are there sharks in Delaware waters? Yes, here's what you need to know
Fifty years ago, the first summer blockbuster made people wonder if it's safe to go in the water. "Jaws" was nightmare fuel for people who enjoyed going to the beach but wondered if the apex predator was lurking in the blue void. Fast forward 50 years, and sharks are still roaming the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean. However, there isn't much of a reason to fear going in the water. How many shark attacks have happened in Delaware? Since 1837, there have been five shark attacks in Delaware waters, according to the database at the University of Florida. The biggest period for shark attacks was in the 1960s when two were reported in Delaware. The last two attacks were a 14-year-old boy who was hospitalized after a shark bite at Cape Henlopen State Park in June 2020, according to a Delaware Online/The News Journal story from 2021. That bite was likely from a sandbar shark, a state expert said. In 2014, another teen was bitten by a shark, also at Cape Henlopen State Park. How many sharks are in Delaware? According to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, as many as 62 species of sharks can be found in the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware Bay and inland bays. Included in the 62 is the great white shark. The great white, which has terrorized people ever since the movie "Jaws" was released in 1975, is the least common species found in Delaware waters. What are the most common sharks in Delaware? Sandbar shark According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the sandbar shark, also known as a brown or thickskin shark, can grow up to 8 feet long and weigh up to 200 pounds. The sandbar is among the largest sharks found in coastal waters. They live in shallow coastal waters and can be found on the East Coast from Cape Cod to Florida. Dogfish shark There are two varieties of the dogfish shark – smooth and spiny. Spiny dogfish can grow up to 4 feet and have two dorsal fins with ungrooved large spines. Smooth dogfish sharks can grow to 5 feet. They live in shallow bays, continental shelves and near offshore banks. Sand tiger According to Oceana, the sand tiger shark lives near the seafloor in surf zones, shallow bays and coral and rocky reefs. They can grow to more than 10 feet and weigh 350 pounds. The sand tiger shark is the only shark known to maintain neutral buoyancy by gulping air at the water's surface and holding it in its stomach. This allows the sand tiger shark to hover motionless in the water. Atlantic mako shark According to Oceana, the Atlantic mako shark lives in the open ocean and reaches lengths of 12 feet and weights at least 1,200 pounds. It is one of the fastest fish on the planet, swimming at speeds around 45 mph. These sharks are caught commercially or accidentally in fisheries. These sharks are valued for the high quality of their fins and meat. Hitting the beach: Are Delaware beaches safe for swimmers? Here's what the numbers say How to avoid sharks Again, once you enter the ocean or Delaware Bay, you are in their world. So here are a few tips from the DNREC and the County of Maui, Hawaii: Swim at lifeguard-monitored beaches, and follow their advice and any posted warning signs. Always swim in a group. Don't stray too far from the shore. Swim in water where you can see your feet. Avoid the water at dawn, dusk and at night. Don't enter the water if you have any open wounds or are bleeding in any way. Don't wear shiny objects in the water. Leave the water quickly and calmly if a shark is sighted; if you see a shark, alert lifeguards or other swimmers immediately. SHARK WEEK: Learn about the TV event and its copycats If you watch What: Discovery Channel's Shark Week When: Through July 26, starting at 8 each night Where: Airs on the Discovery Channel and streams on Discovery+ and HBO Max This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Which sharks are in Delaware waters. How to stay safe Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Delaware is home to dangerous animals. Here's a look at 9 of them
As the weather keeps getting nicer, it's time to get outside and enjoy late spring and summer. However, there are more than a few things you need to be on the watch for as you go hiking or camping in the First State. Delaware has some dangerous critters lurking throughout the state from the obvious to the not-so-obvious. This doesn't mean the animals will kill you, but they make you feel like you wish they had. Here's a look at nine dangerous animals in Delaware. According to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, copperheads are one of the easiest snakes to identify in Delaware. Although often reported throughout the state, this species is found only in southern Sussex County and near Wilmington. Along with its copper-colored head and catlike vertical pupils, the copperhead is the only species of snake in Delaware that has dark hourglass-shaped crossbands that are narrowest at the center of the back and wider at the belly. Bites from copperheads are uncommon, and 25% of defensive bites from a copperhead are "dry bites" or don't contain venom. The venom can cause severe tissue damage to the bite area, but death from a copperhead bite is extremely rare. If bitten, you should try to get a photo of the snake and get medical attention as soon as possible. Flying venomous spiders in Delaware?: The flying, venomous Joro spider could be making its way to Delaware. Here's what to know According to World Atlas, the timber rattler's habitat includes low mountain ranges such as the Appalachians, and it is recognizable by its triangular head and large venomous glands on either side. Its scales range in color from golden yellow to gray and green, and sometimes it can be totally black. It has a stout body and a rattle at the end of its tail. Although fatalities from a timber snake bite are few, these snakes can be deadly. Black widow spiders are the only venomous spiders native to Delaware. The spiders are usually found in woodpiles, under eaves, fences and other areas where debris has accumulated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They may also be found living in outdoor toilets where flies are plentiful. A bite from a black widow can be distinguished from other insect bites by the two puncture marks it makes in the skin. The venom is a neurotoxin that produces pain at the bite area and then spreads to the chest, abdomen or the entire body. While the bites are rarely fatal, people should seek medical attention immediately. Delaware's snapping turtles have hooked jaws that snap with remarkable force. While the bite may not amputate your appendage, it can lead to an infection that would lead to amputation. Either way, a bite from these large turtles is painful. Snapping turtles prefer to relax deep in mud; they are less aggressive when in water, but on land, they often lunge and snap at will. According to the DNREC, the coyote population is small in the state. People should never put food out to lure them closer. Nearly all bites or attacks occur when people attempt to feed wild animals or treat them like domestic animals. Enjoy watching wild animals, but don't lead them into temptation. Remember, all wild animals are unpredictable, and caution is the watchword when they are around. OK, we all know there are black bear sightings in Delaware. We also know bears are not native to Delaware. They, like our friends coming from Washington, D.C., and Baltimore to Rehoboth Beach, are tourists. Still, bears are dangerous. That said, black bears are not particularly aggressive and, in fact, can be scared away by loud noises. Anyone who spots a bear should give it plenty of space, according to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. OK, stop tilting your head. Yes, a mosquito bite is itchy and a welt may develop, but there's a lot more those little buggers can do. They carry some dangerous diseases. With one bite, you may get Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue or malaria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your best defense is going to be applying insect repellent or using citronella candles when you're outside. You're walking through the woods, and you get a tick on your leg. While you might not think much of it, a bite from a tick is a gateway to a variety of diseases like Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, spotted fever group Rickettsioses and others. When hiking or walking in grassy or wooded areas, your best defense is wearing long pants and shoes. Cover up your skin so the ticks aren't going to land on your skin. Ticks in Delaware: Here's what to look out for and how to prevent bites Sure, deer may charge at you if their fawns are nearby, but generally, deer are docile creatures. That said, have you ever hit a deer with a car? In 2021, according to the Delaware State Police, there were 1,849 car-deer collisions. Typically, the crashes happen between October and mid-December. According to the Delaware Office of Highway Safety data, deer-vehicle collisions occur most often between 5 and 7 a.m. and spike again from 5 to 10 p.m. – including when many people are heading home for the evening. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Which dangerous animals are in Delaware: What to watch for
