Shark attacks, bear attacks and snake bites – a biologist investigates the hidden risks of summer adventures

Summer is the time of year when most people take time to enjoy the outdoors. Whether that’s a multi-day camping, biking or rafting trip or a week at the beach or lake, we do what we can to rejuvenate through the majesty of nature. These trips into nature help us relax the mind, hit the reset button and shake off the endless hustle and bustle of everyday life.

However, when we embark on such adventures, there is always the risk of getting a little too close to nature. Depending on the vacation you choose, three of the most common fears in summer are shark attacks, bear bites and snake bites.

Here’s a biologist’s primer on the dangers associated with each of these common fears, and what you can do to take the necessary precautions. Remember: just because the risk is small doesn’t mean it can be ignored.

Shark attacks

Shark attacks get far more credit on the “danger scale” than they deserve – especially when you look at the statistics. But that’s not surprising. Try to convince yourself not to worry about a 500-pound killing machine with rows of jagged teeth lurking beneath the ocean’s surface, occasionally showing its telltale dorsal fin so everyone knows who’s boss of the sea.

However, if you realize that the chances of ever coming into contact with a shark, let alone being bitten by one, are minimal, you can keep your fears at bay.

To put things in context, there have been 141 recorded deaths from shark attacks worldwide, according to data from the International Shark Attack File, a comprehensive database of known shark attacks dating back to the 16th century. The data isn’t perfect (some shark attacks go unreported), but it’s the best information we have on shark attacks – and it gets better every year.

Scientists estimate that the chance of suffering a fatal shark bite is less than 1 in 264 million. The chance of being attacked by a shark without it being fatal is less than 1 in 10 million.

Although they are extremely rare, shark attacks do occur. Just this month, an incident occurred in Walton County, Florida, where three people (an adult woman and two teenagers) were attacked by sharks on the same day.

To take the necessary precautions, you need to know when and where to swim – and when and where not to. Experts from the University of Florida offer the following six pieces of advice:

• Swimming with a buddy
• Stay close to the shore
• Do not swim at dawn or dusk
• Do not swim near schools of fish or where people are fishing
• Avoid wearing jewelry
• Avoid excessive spraying

It’s also important to remember that some coastal locations have much higher shark populations than others. For example, in the United States, most shark attacks occur in Florida, particularly along Florida’s Atlantic coast. Florida’s Volusia County has the infamous reputation of being the “shark bite capital of the world.” Other states with an increased risk of shark attacks include Hawaii, California, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas.

Bear attacks

Being attacked by a bear is another risk that has more psychological significance than it statistically deserves. A study conducted by Kerry Gunther of the Bear Management Office in Yellowstone National Park examined all known fatal bear attacks that occurred in Yellowstone National Park between 1872 and 2018. There were eight in total, seven of which were committed by grizzly bears. Here are other findings from Gunther’s study:

“The per capita risk of being killed by a grizzly bear was 1 fatality per 26.2 million park visits. Most fatal bear attacks in Yellowstone National Park were surprise encounters and/or bears habituated to human food. Only 1 fatal bear attack was classified as a predator attack. Most fatal bear attacks involved males, small groups of less than 3 individuals, and occurred in remote isolated areas. Although the frequency of fatal bear attacks appears to have increased in recent years, the per capita risk of fatal bear attacks has decreased.”

Gunther’s recommendations for reducing the risk of a bear attack include:

• Hiking with other people, ideally three or more
• Stay on designated paths
• Do not run away when encountering bears
• Carry bear spray when in bear territory

Snake bites

Being bitten by a poisonous snake is far more likely than being attacked by a shark or mauled by a bear, although the chances of that happening are still slim.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 7,500 people in the United States are bitten by a venomous snake each year and about five of those people die from the bite.

The most common offenders are rattlesnakes, copperheads, water moccasins and coral snakes. The states with the most bites from venomous snakes are North Carolina, West Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Virginia and Texas.

To reduce the risk of a snake bite, experts recommend the following:

• Do not touch or handle snakes
• Avoid tall grass and piles of leaves
• Avoid climbing on piles of wood or rocks where a snake could hide
• Remember that snakes are most active at dawn and dusk and in warmer weather
• Wear boots and long pants when hiking in areas where snakes may be present

It’s important to remember that the likelihood of something bad happening to you during your summer adventure has little to do with the perceived threat of dangerous animals. My best advice is to educate yourself on the risks in the areas you’re traveling to – and wear sunscreen.