A deadly menace lurks on American beaches. It strikes without warning, and from 1990 through 2006, it killed at least 16 people. Yes, you’ve probably already guessed what it is: collapsing sand holes. Sharks, on the other hand, killed only 11 -- they just got more airtime.
Sharks may be dramatic and scary, but attacks are rare. Credit: WikipediaIn fact, despite the news coverage, documentaries, and a slightly scary movie, shark attacks are rare. According to the International Shark Attack File, which compiles reports from around the world, last year there were only 59 unprovoked shark attacks, and just four fatalities. And that’s down from the all-time high of 79 attacks in the year 2000.
Shark attacks get a lot of press because they’re dramatic and scary. The stories prey on our fear of the unknown -- you just don’t know what’s lurking in the dark water beneath you.
Yet unless you’re messing with one, the risk of a shark attacking you is tiny, and the odds of dying from the attack are tinier still. Far more people die from insect bites and stings, lightning strikes, dog attacks, and even highway collisions with deer.
Over the decades, the average number of shark attacks has gone up. But that’s almost entirely because there are a lot more people, and people spend a lot more time at the beach. The number of sharks is way down, mainly because so many have been snared by commercial fishing nets.
Still, anytime people and nature interact, things can go wrong. A shark can bite you, a bee can sting you -- or a hole in the sand can collapse on top of you.
