10 states with the most unprovoked shark attacks
From 'Jaws' to 'Sharknado,' sharks have been a source of fascination for Americans for the last half a century. And while a massive robotic fish destroying your boat may be fiction, getting nipped or having a limb torn off is very real possibility at several popular tourist destinations across the country.
In 2015, shark activities hit an all-time high in the United States with 59 unprovoked attacks.
Scientists speculate the increase in activity could be attributed to the warm waters brought on by El Niño and global warming. There was only one fatality, which occurred in Hawaii. There was particularly high activity in Florida and the Carolinas last year.
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Although these numbers may be alarming to some, humans log billions of hours in the water each year. You, as a human, have a one in 84 chance of dying in a car accident, one in 340,733 chance of dying in fireworks-related accident in a lifetime and only a one in 3,748,067 chance of dying in a shark attack, according the International Shark Attack File (ISAF).
The ISAF says although unprovoked shark attacks are rare, high contrast apparel, like bright yellow, is more likely to draw the animals.
If you encounter a shark in the wild, hitting it on the nose with a fist or inanimate object could curtail an attack. If it bites, the ISAF recommends clawing at its eyes and gill openings, two sensitive areas. Sharks respect both power and size.
Click below to see the states with the most unprovoked shark attacks since U.S. records began:
