A 500 Pound Great White Shark Is Near Sarasota County
A 500 pound great white shark has been pinging off the coast of Sarasota County. Penny is the name of the Great White Shark and she is 10 feet long and weighs 522 pounds. She was tagged in North Carolina in April 2023 and she made her way all the way up to Canada but is now travel to Florida. On Monday, she was off the coast of Sarasota County. So, if you are out and about off the coast of Sarasota County and see a great white shark it most likely is Penny.
Shark Attacks Are Extremely Rare In Florida
The Florida Wildlife and Conservation Commission says, “In Florida, sharks typically move inshore and north in the spring and summer, and offshore and south in fall and winter months. This pattern explains why shark activity is at its peak in Florida waters during April through October, which coincidentally, is also the time period that humans are more likely to be in the water. Yet shark bites still remain very rare. Humans are 30 times more likely to be struck by lightning in Florida than to be bitten by a shark. Experts agree that the increase in the number of shark bites in recent years is more related to an increase in human visitors than to an increase in shark populations or activity.”
Since 1882 there have only been 14 unprovoked shark attacks in Pinellas County. Manatee County has seen only 5. There are ways to reduce the odds of a shark bite and the FWC has a great list of them. They says to always stay in groups and don’t wander too far from the shore. Also, don’t be in the water at night and don’t enter the water in you are bleeding.
Types Of Sharks Living In Tampa Bay Waters
There are seven different species of sharks living in the waters of Tampa Bay. They are: Blacktip Shark, Bonnethead Shark, Bull Shark, Nurse Shark, Hammerheard Shark, Lemon Shark and Tiger Shark.
[SOURCE: WFLA]
The 5 Most Dangerous Animals In Florida
There are a lot of dangerous animals in Florida. But if you ever wondered what the most dangerous are? This list was put together by A-Z Animals. Between 1999 and 2019 only 247 people in Florida died as a result of an animal attack. Florida ranks as the third deadliest state in the United States for animal attacks. Texas is number one with 520 and California is number two with 299. Those findings come from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
So, what is the first animal that you think of when you think dangerous in Florida? You probably think of the Alligator, but that isn’t the number one overall dangerous animal in Florida. The Great White Shark is the most dangerous animal in Florida. While not on the land in Florida Great White Sharks swim the waters around the state of Florida. Back in 2020 Florida had 16 shark bites on record. Second was Hawaii with only five.
The Most Dangerous Animals Not In The Top 5
The dangerous animals in Florida that didn’t make the top five are some that you may have thought could’ve been higher. Firstly, number six on the list is the Black Widow Spider followed by the Florida Panther. The Florida Panther is the state animal. It was chosen in 1982 by a vote of students throughout the state. Following the Florida Panther on the list is the Wild Boar. You can find the Wild Boar in all 67 counties of Florida. Their estimated population is over half a million.
Next is the Timber Rattlesnake. It is also known as the canebreak rattlesnake and it is a species of pit viper. The Timber Rattlesnake has a Chevron pattern and a stripe running down its body. Finally, coming in number 10 on the list is the American Crocodile. They are found along the coast of Florida as north as the Hillsborough/Pasco County border on the west side of Florida.
Below, you can find the top five most dangerous animals in Florida.
Great White Shark
Yes, Great White Sharks are found in the waters around Florida. A almost 1,200 pound shark that was almost 13 feet in length was tracked back in March of this year.
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Bull Shark
#1 and #2 on the list are sharks. They are in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. They grow to about 11 feet and can live about 24 years.
Alligator
Alligators live in all 67 counties in Florida. You can find alligators in any body of water including lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, swamps and man-made canals.
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Eastern Dimondback Rattlesnake
They are found in pine flatwoods, longleaf pine and turkey oak hammocks, sand pine scrub areas, and coastal barrier islands. Yes it is venomous.
Cottonmouth Snake
It is venomous and can be found throughout Florida. It is called a cottonmouth because of the white color of the inside of its mouth.
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