Two swimmers were apparently attacked by sharks off Long Island on Tuesday, a day after two others reported being attacked off popular New York beaches.
At least one beach delayed opening to Independence Day revelers after officials said drones spotted 50 sand sharks. When the beach reopened, swimmers were advised to stay close to shore.
“We want to make sure swimmers are safe,” George Gorman, Long Island State Parks regional director, told Newsday.
The beach was closed once more after a possible shark sighting, but officials determined it was a dolphin.
As defined by National Geographic, sand sharks is a catch-all name for species including the sand tiger or gray nurse shark, which has “a deceivingly ferocious look … large-bodied and display[ing] a mouthful of sharp teeth that protrude in all directions, even when the mouth is shut” but which is “a docile, non-aggressive species, known to attack humans only when bothered first”.
Nonetheless, in New York state, after a spate of attacks last year, officials have increased patrols and deployed more drones.
“We did have a season last year where we had six swimmers bitten from sharks, so this has turned into a bit of a concern,” Rodney Harrison, the Suffolk county police commissioner, told WABC.
The incidents on Tuesday happened about 60 miles apart, including one off Fire Island Pines – not far from another attack the day before when a 15-year-old reported being bitten on a foot while surfing. Earlier on Monday, a 15-year-old girl was treated for an apparent bite to a leg.
“She didn’t see what bit her, the lifeguards didn’t know what bit her, the drone operator checked the area, we didn’t see,” Gorman said. “So we can’t definitively say what bit her.”
The Tuesday shark encounters both occurred just before 2pm.
A 47-year-old man was in chest-deep water off Quogue Village Beach in the Hamptons when he felt an apparent bite to his right knee, Quogue police said. He told authorities he did not see a shark. As a precaution, Quogue police advised swimmers to stay out of the water until officials could assess the risks.
Soon after, miles away, a 49-year-old man reported having a hand bitten while swimming near Fire Island Pines Beach.
Despite the attacks, holiday revelers remained on the beach.
“That’s nature and maybe we are taking over their domain and they don’t like it,” Diana Fratello, 90, told WCBS.
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