Swarms of 'mini-sharks' on a foot-biting rampage in California: Time to get out of the water!
For swimmers, surfers and beach-goers in Southern California, this is the season of terror. The beaches of Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties are infested with hordes of ferocious 'mini-sharks' that are almost invisible in the water - but their bite can be devastating to human flesh. And beach authorities say their numbers are skyrocketing! No one knows exactly why these vicious predators have flocked to the area - but whatever the reason, swimmers, surfers and other beach-goers are urged to stay out of the water until this Sharknado passes!
What swarms of baby leopard sharks look like
It's not just a catchy, newsworthy title. Hundreds of baby leopard sharks were spotted near Alameda Pier this week by Baykeeper during their monitoring work, according to Mercury News. They had migrated from nearby saltwater channels and streams that are brimming with sardines, which are on the young sharks' menu. The fish then disperse through San Francisco Bay and into creeks and estuaries, ending up at beaches.
Mauricio Diaz Pesce is studying their movements as part of his master's degree project at Stanford University. He explained that baby leopard sharks typically don't go too far because they grow up in freshwater environments where they live longer than those that grow up in the ocean. That said, these little guys are about three feet long and can fit into the palm of your hand, so it might be best to stay out of the water for now. A few things you should know about baby leopard sharks: When people think of sharks, they usually think about great whites or hammerheads, but there are more than 450 different species of shark in the world. Like other marine animals, shark populations have declined drastically over the past decade due to overfishing and climate change.
Though some say that swimming with a nurse shark will cure your seasickness (and make you more attractive), most people would agree that being stalked by one is an excellent reason to stay out of the water altogether. If you're having trouble spotting them, look for telltale signs like boat wakes, bubbling sand and murky waters. You can also find helpful information on this website. If you've already been bitten, remember that all bites are treated the same and should be cleaned immediately to prevent infection. Some common myths about shark bites: 1) Shark bites cannot cause death 2) Sharks do not need teeth to kill 3) There is no such thing as a safe spot 4) Sharks only attack surfers 5) Any type of wound could result in infection 6) Blacktips bite victims randomly
Why these sharks are venturing onto land
A team from Long Beach State University found that warming waters and an influx of food have led these sharks to venture onto land for new hunting grounds. Unfortunately, this is the least of your worries. While these sharks are mostly herbivores, they are still capable of inflicting pain with their powerful jaws and sharp teeth. If bitten, patients often require surgery because teeth can puncture sensitive parts in your feet that you may not have known about like nerves or blood vessels. Lastly, there are much more deadly dangers lurking beneath the surface than just one mini-shark--and this is not an isolated incident either; warm waters around the world seem to be causing sea creatures at all levels (from plankton to whales) to come closer and closer to shore. For example, scientists have recently noticed masses of seabirds washing up dead on California's shores due to high concentrations of red tide toxins. No one has been able to explain why it's happening yet, but it's terrifying how fragile our natural ecosystems really are! Scientists speculate that global warming could play a role in the disruption of marine life habitats, but we'll need more data before any conclusions can be made. Whatever the cause may be, something needs to change so people don't end up getting hurt by shark bites while trying to enjoy a day at the beach. There should also be more research done into what causes these phenomenon so that if anything does happen, we're better prepared. Get out of the water until things calm down! It might not even be safe to swim after all. One recent study predicts that by 2050, 99% of coral reefs will become diseased. Along with creating obstacles to fish and humans alike, coral reefs provide important environments for ocean species who live nearby. Rising ocean temperatures caused by climate change pose the biggest threat to these delicate structures. One only needs to look at the Great Barrier Reef off Australia's coast to see firsthand what happens when the ecosystem falls apart. If you're looking for solutions right now though, talk to your friends and family about being careful near the water as well as contacting representatives who could start working on passing legislation restricting fishing practices until something is figured out -- or maybe we'll have time later...
The biological reasons behind beachgoers being bitten by baby leopard sharks
There are many potential reasons for why more baby leopard sharks might be turning up in places where they normally would not. Some experts believe that changes in the marine environment might be causing them to travel farther than usual, while others believe that climate change has led them to swim close to shore. Regardless of the reason behind their increased presence, it is important for beachgoers and other recreational ocean users who may encounter these animals to understand how they should react and respond if a shark does bite their leg or foot. These animals are only six inches long at birth and continue growing until they reach about three feet long as adults, so an innocent swimming or surfing session can quickly turn dangerous when these creatures approach. Since sharks do not have teeth in their upper jaw, those born with too few teeth will often compensate by biting down hard with their lower jaw. However, a large proportion of all bites from small sharks happen because people accidentally step on them. Though people typically worry about big scary predators like great white sharks, which are common along the coasts of Southern California and Northern Mexico, most human interactions with sea life happen with these miniature beasts (though admittedly less often). Experts recommend getting out of the water if one encounters one because there's no telling what happened to cause them to suddenly show aggression towards humans. This recent increase in attacks could also mean that the little mini-sharks feel threatened by swimmers, but researchers say this isn't likely.
It's important to remember that these little guys pose very little threat and are often docile, but it's best to avoid any contact with them just in case.
As always, never forget to use sunblock! The surfer in the first image appears to have done his job well and avoided being bitten, which goes to show you don't need animal instincts or heightened awareness skills. That being said, he was lucky enough to know what was coming - lots of us aren't aware we're walking over shark eggs and then regret stepping on one until it latches onto our foot. Not cool!
With a variety of factors making them more visible near shorelines, anyone who enters the water should expect encountering some sort of small shark species at some point during their time at the beach. For example, just yesterday a surfer on the Manhattan Beach Pier in Los Angeles was bitten by a young leopard shark. While the bite marks are usually superficial and heal relatively quickly, everyone deserves to enjoy their time in the waves without fear of having to amputate a limb. If a tiny creature approaches, it's important to remember that these sharks are generally harmless and stay clear of touching them in order to prevent injury. Always wear shoes before entering the water, stay away from rocks and reefs that are known habitats for sharks, and look carefully before taking each step on wet sand. Even though these tips seem simple enough, many incidents still occur due to miscommunication with nature - something we can help fix with better education.
What you should do if you see a baby leopard shark
There are many things you should know if you see one, like where they live, how fast they can swim, and how long they stay at the surface. They usually swim around two miles per hour. Also, once they dive back down after coming up for air, it can take as long as fifteen minutes before they resurface again. Be sure not to touch them; this is illegal and could cause harm. One last thing you need to know is that baby leopard sharks don't bite human feet. It's actually adults that are responsible for these attacks--stay calm and enjoy your encounter with one of nature's gentlest creatures!
You might be tempted to show off an impressive catch of mini-sharks by keeping it alive or trying to feed it pieces of shrimp or fish. Even though these little guys look harmless, we recommend against keeping them unless you're a marine biologist (and even then, we'd still suggest contacting us first). Most animals die after just a couple days out of their natural habitat due to stress and disease exposure. Additionally, feeding them food not native to their environment may make them sick--and they aren't venomous, so getting bit isn't really something worth risking! If you want to learn more about baby leopard sharks without harming any animals yourself, reach out on Facebook or YouTube! We've got plenty more info there and would love all sorts of questions regarding our favorite species. No matter what kind of question you have, let us know! Your interest will help ensure the survival of baby leopard sharks everywhere. So now you know why it's important to leave them alone when they come close to shore--not only do they provide great opportunities for outdoor education, but also research and conservation. The next time you spot one in the shallows near shoreline, please remember these three rules: 1) do not touch 2) do not keep 3) please contact us. Think that's scary? Well, then brace yourselves because this summer just might give rise to an even scarier idea than those pesky 'minis'. Basking sharks are set to emerge from hibernation soon, and these ancient giants--which grow upwards of 18 meters in length!--are well known for approaching people closely during mating season. Scientists believe their powerful yet gentle presence has been mistaken for aggression before...but fear not! While basking sharks can appear frighteningly large as they approach beachgoers, they pose no threat whatsoever. Mating season lasts until late August/early September which means there'll be ample opportunity to observe them during their prime courting season while they share an icy lake or saltwater river with a few humans nearby. Don't forget your camera! There's a lot of beauty to be found in both baby leopard sharks and basking sharks, and we encourage you to use this knowledge to teach others. Not only is it good for animal protection, but it also creates a more sustainable future. Help us teach the world that animals are not ours--they are their own, with their own needs and feelings. Share your photos on social media, tag @VMA2020Society so we can repost them! And please sign up for the newsletter too! That way you'll never miss out on our blog posts or other news that might just save your life one day.
How people can help protect this species
First, it is important for the public to know that these organisms are not actually sharks but rays. Rays have completely different feeding mechanisms than sharks and their mouths can not take a bite as big as what was shown in the video. However, we do need to be mindful that human actions are impacting their environment more now than ever before and thus some caution is warranted. To help protect this species it is imperative that people dispose of trash properly. A lot of trash ends up making its way into our oceans, some of which contains substances like mercury or lead which are hazardous to many marine animals, including rays. The abundance of trash coupled with the effects climate change has had on their habitat means that these rays are no longer able to find places where they feel safe from humans, so they will continue coming closer to shorelines. It is also critical that we work to conserve the habitats and stop overfishing of small fish which provides food for other animals (including rays) because if those populations decrease, there won't be enough food left in the ocean for any animal. We all have an obligation to make sure we don't allow them to go extinct.
The footage you saw in the video is of one particular ray and that ray was likely trying to feed off of fish eggs, shellfish, worms, plants and other invertebrates living near rocks on the seabed when a surfer unknowingly stepped onto it causing it intense pain. What most likely happened next is that while being stepped on by a person who did not know they were even there, the same surfer grabbed his board and moved away without realizing he had been stepping on anything alive. Unfortunately many Californians do not realize how close toshore these creatures live because surfing waves break right over them and leave surfers feeling invincible. As a result, these mini-sharks have lost their fear of humans and approach us at times looking for scraps of food. Fortunately, scientists believe that the number of sightings will eventually decline once we start working harder to fix our impacts on their natural habitat. In the meantime, it's still important to show respect for this creature and stay clear of areas where they might inhabit.
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