Experts: barracuda, not shark, bit swimmer
By Kristen Burnie kburnie@keysreporter.com
Posted-Friday, August 10, 2007 6:43 PM EDT Email this story
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Jacksonville teen recovering at Baptist Hospital
Despite claims a bull shark was responsible for biting a Jacksonville woman in Islamorada Tuesday, some wildlife experts say a barracuda was more likely responsible for the attack.
Ashley Silverman, 19, was on a boat at Bud 'n Mary's Marina on Lower Matecumbe Key when, despite reported warnings from friends, she jumped in the water to cool off.
A fishing guide who asked not to be identified was at the marina when the incident happened and said he heard Silverman scream immediately upon entering the water.
"I was here that day and heard the girl screaming," the guide said. "The guys on the boat told her not to jump in. She must have jumped right on it because she started screaming as soon as she hit the water. We ran over there and they put a tourniquet on her and called 911."
The guide said it would have been difficult to identify the animal that bit Silverman.
"The water was really dirty and murky," the guide said.
Silverman was taken to Mariners Hospital before being transported to Baptist Hospital in Kendall, where she was treated for severe nerve and tissue damage and underwent extensive surgery the following day.
Reports from various news sources said a bull shark was likely to blame.
But George Burgess, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research and Web editor for the International Shark Attack File, told The Reporter the wound pattern and the circumstances surrounding the attack point to a barracuda.
"I have interviewed the original treating physician at Mariners Hospital and based on our conversation, it would appear that the bite was perpetrated by a barracuda, not a shark," Burgess said. "Big 'cudas are very common lurkers under docks and shaded overhangs, and are particularly attracted to areas where they get free food. Marinas are wonderful places to get the latter. It's not surprising that a 'cuda would be in that situation, and 'cudas react very quickly to a splash."
Bruce Stoll, assistant chief of operations for Islamorada Fire Rescue, said according to reports from officers who responded to the 911 call, nobody involved saw the animal that bit Silverman.
"From our standpoint, we couldn't tell you what it was that bit her," Stoll said, "and from our report, nobody there got a look at what it was."
According to Mariners spokeswoman Sheila Konczewski, Dr. Thomas Steed, who initially treated Silverman, was unable to identify the animal responsible for the attack based on Silverman's wounds.
"The wounds she had were in the middle of her right forearm, where she sustained huge soft tissue damage as well as injury to her muscles and tendons," Konczewski said. "As to whether a bull shark or a barracuda was responsible, the doctor really couldn't say. He just said it was a toothy fish."
But some wildlife officials doubt that a bull shark was responsible for the bite, which was reportedly about 8 inches long and 3 inches wide.
"I've been down here over 18 years and that's the first shark attack that I've heard of," said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officer Robert Dube. "I would think if it was a 10-foot bull shark, she wouldn't have an arm at all."
Dube said he too suspects a barracuda is the culprit.
"Barracuda bites are much more common than a shark," Dube said. "There are probably a couple bites each year that I hear about. Of course, anything's possible. Nobody's seen a shark; they're assuming it's a shark."
Burgess said he has tried unsuccessfully to speak with Dr. Randy Miller, the treating physician at Baptist Hospital.
Since the attack, Bud 'n Mary's Marina has come under scrutiny for its practice of cleaning fish and dumping scraps in the water. Owner Richard Stanczyk admits that this is a common occurrence at Bud 'n Mary's, but that the issue is much more complex.
"True, where there's charter-fishing people cleaning fish, it's not a good choice for swimming," he said
But Stanczyk said Bud 'n Mary's is not the only place in the Keys where human activity attracts carnivorous fish. He said some guides have created an accident waiting to happen by frequently dumping fish carcasses in a channel very close to the Sandbar, a popular swimming destination where tourists and locals anchor their boats.
Stanczyk also said patrons can pay to feed tarpon at other marinas, and that actively feeding fish could condition them to respond in a predatory manor to a splash, like Silverman made before she was bitten.
"It's similar to Pavlov's dogs," Stanczyk said. "We're teaching them to feed around the docks."
Stanczyk said other issues, including dirty water, silver jewelry and a large splash, could have contributed to the attack.
Stanczyk said a large barracuda had been seen swimming in the marina the same day that Silverman was attacked.
For swimmers looking to lower their chances of experiencing an ordeal similar to Silverman's, Burgess suggests "a more graceful entry."
"A barracuda and a shark are in a hunting mode most of the time," Burgess said. "It's probably instinctive that they go for a sudden splash because in their world, it's usually associated with a food item that's in distress or is off guard. So when we jump into the water in that fashion, if there is that type of a predator nearby, we increase our chances of the predator reacting to that splash. We also have a lot of incidents leaving the water, when people are kicking to get out."
According to the International Shark Attack File, 18 unprovoked shark attacks have occurred in the Keys since 1882.
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Keys report..........more than likely a 'cuda' and a boat full of dumb arse kids.
By Kristen Burnie kburnie@keysreporter.com
Posted-Friday, August 10, 2007 6:43 PM EDT Email this story
Print this story
Jacksonville teen recovering at Baptist Hospital
Despite claims a bull shark was responsible for biting a Jacksonville woman in Islamorada Tuesday, some wildlife experts say a barracuda was more likely responsible for the attack.
Ashley Silverman, 19, was on a boat at Bud 'n Mary's Marina on Lower Matecumbe Key when, despite reported warnings from friends, she jumped in the water to cool off.
A fishing guide who asked not to be identified was at the marina when the incident happened and said he heard Silverman scream immediately upon entering the water.
"I was here that day and heard the girl screaming," the guide said. "The guys on the boat told her not to jump in. She must have jumped right on it because she started screaming as soon as she hit the water. We ran over there and they put a tourniquet on her and called 911."
The guide said it would have been difficult to identify the animal that bit Silverman.
"The water was really dirty and murky," the guide said.
Silverman was taken to Mariners Hospital before being transported to Baptist Hospital in Kendall, where she was treated for severe nerve and tissue damage and underwent extensive surgery the following day.
Reports from various news sources said a bull shark was likely to blame.
But George Burgess, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research and Web editor for the International Shark Attack File, told The Reporter the wound pattern and the circumstances surrounding the attack point to a barracuda.
"I have interviewed the original treating physician at Mariners Hospital and based on our conversation, it would appear that the bite was perpetrated by a barracuda, not a shark," Burgess said. "Big 'cudas are very common lurkers under docks and shaded overhangs, and are particularly attracted to areas where they get free food. Marinas are wonderful places to get the latter. It's not surprising that a 'cuda would be in that situation, and 'cudas react very quickly to a splash."
Bruce Stoll, assistant chief of operations for Islamorada Fire Rescue, said according to reports from officers who responded to the 911 call, nobody involved saw the animal that bit Silverman.
"From our standpoint, we couldn't tell you what it was that bit her," Stoll said, "and from our report, nobody there got a look at what it was."
According to Mariners spokeswoman Sheila Konczewski, Dr. Thomas Steed, who initially treated Silverman, was unable to identify the animal responsible for the attack based on Silverman's wounds.
"The wounds she had were in the middle of her right forearm, where she sustained huge soft tissue damage as well as injury to her muscles and tendons," Konczewski said. "As to whether a bull shark or a barracuda was responsible, the doctor really couldn't say. He just said it was a toothy fish."
But some wildlife officials doubt that a bull shark was responsible for the bite, which was reportedly about 8 inches long and 3 inches wide.
"I've been down here over 18 years and that's the first shark attack that I've heard of," said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officer Robert Dube. "I would think if it was a 10-foot bull shark, she wouldn't have an arm at all."
Dube said he too suspects a barracuda is the culprit.
"Barracuda bites are much more common than a shark," Dube said. "There are probably a couple bites each year that I hear about. Of course, anything's possible. Nobody's seen a shark; they're assuming it's a shark."
Burgess said he has tried unsuccessfully to speak with Dr. Randy Miller, the treating physician at Baptist Hospital.
Since the attack, Bud 'n Mary's Marina has come under scrutiny for its practice of cleaning fish and dumping scraps in the water. Owner Richard Stanczyk admits that this is a common occurrence at Bud 'n Mary's, but that the issue is much more complex.
"True, where there's charter-fishing people cleaning fish, it's not a good choice for swimming," he said
But Stanczyk said Bud 'n Mary's is not the only place in the Keys where human activity attracts carnivorous fish. He said some guides have created an accident waiting to happen by frequently dumping fish carcasses in a channel very close to the Sandbar, a popular swimming destination where tourists and locals anchor their boats.
Stanczyk also said patrons can pay to feed tarpon at other marinas, and that actively feeding fish could condition them to respond in a predatory manor to a splash, like Silverman made before she was bitten.
"It's similar to Pavlov's dogs," Stanczyk said. "We're teaching them to feed around the docks."
Stanczyk said other issues, including dirty water, silver jewelry and a large splash, could have contributed to the attack.
Stanczyk said a large barracuda had been seen swimming in the marina the same day that Silverman was attacked.
For swimmers looking to lower their chances of experiencing an ordeal similar to Silverman's, Burgess suggests "a more graceful entry."
"A barracuda and a shark are in a hunting mode most of the time," Burgess said. "It's probably instinctive that they go for a sudden splash because in their world, it's usually associated with a food item that's in distress or is off guard. So when we jump into the water in that fashion, if there is that type of a predator nearby, we increase our chances of the predator reacting to that splash. We also have a lot of incidents leaving the water, when people are kicking to get out."
According to the International Shark Attack File, 18 unprovoked shark attacks have occurred in the Keys since 1882.
--------------------------------------------
Keys report..........more than likely a 'cuda' and a boat full of dumb arse kids.
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