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Shark attacks: After recent bites, your questions answered
Encounters with the big fish are rare, but can be deadly. Here's how to reduce your risk, and what you should keep in mind.
Shark attacks have been rising steadily for more than a century.
“The number of worldwide unprovoked shark attacks has grown at a steady pace since 1900, with each decade having more attacks than the previous,” reports the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History.
Over the past several summers, a number of high-profile shark attacks have been seen in the U.S., from North Carolina to Hawaii. Still, officials say beaches remain safe to visit, since the incidents are statistically very rare. An ocean swimmer has only a one in 11.5 million chance of being bitten by a shark, according to the museum.
In recent years, North Carolina's beach officials have said any shark “acting aggressive,” such
