Local biologist, beachgoers speak on Walton County shark attacks

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Friday’s shark attacks are still fresh in the minds of beachgoers across the panhandle. Three victims were bitten, two were critically injured, while swimming in the gulf off of Walton County beaches Friday afternoon.

With the attacks happening within less than two hours and just four miles apart, the first shark bites in years for the county, many are left wondering why or how this happened.

Biologist Researcher Dr. John Carlson says there are still a lot of unknown factors, but that experts are curious for answers.

“This is a very, very rare event,” Dr. Carlson said. “We’re still, from a research perspective, trying to put the pieces together.”

When asked if it could have been one shark that attacked or multiple, or what kind of shark it may have been that attacked, Dr. Carlson explained that there are many different species in the panhandle, and it is difficult to say for certain.

“I can’t say whether it’s the same shark, or multiple sharks,” he said. “We have so many different species here. Bull sharks are probably the most likely shark that would attack a human and the reason for that is they are a larger shark and they feed on larger pray.”

As for the reason the shark or sharks may have attacked, Dr. Carlson said it was likely a case of mistaken identity and there could have been multiple factors that played into the bites.

“This time of the year, there’s quite a bit of bait fish very close to the shore. Sharks are very attracted to that. It’s their normal prey and they’ll move in shore to feed on that,” he explained. “So, it’s just one of these incidences where, just because of, again, there’s a lot of bait in the water or the viability of the water is poor, that the shark became confused and mistaken a person for its natural prey.”

Dr. Carlson added that it is also mating season, and that he has heard multiple reports from colleagues about a very high number of sharks in shallower waters in recent weeks.

But the news of Friday’s attacks did not stop beachgoers from getting back into the water less than 24 hours later.

“I think there’s definitely more people today that have been more aware of what’s going on in the water and everyone’s kind of looking out for each other while also still having a good time,” Taylor, a regular beachgoer at Inlet Beach, said.

“You know, I was a little nervous this morning, but scoped out the area and I was like ‘you know what?’” said one woman on a bachelorette trip to Inlet Beach, said.

“Feeling grateful we were able to get in the water today and swim around,” another woman in the group said. “And just enjoy it!”

Other beachgoers at Inlet Beach, just miles away from where the attacks happened, said they were on the beach when the attacks happened Friday and commended the first responders and added they feel safe enough to return to the beach.

“It’s interesting to see a beach community like this where you got a lot of tourists coming in and Sheriff Adkinson, I think it was, he was here personally [Friday],” John, visiting Inlet Beach from Houston, said. “You could just see it, it was traumatic for them for somebody to be hurt or injured at all, but again I commend them for getting everyone out of the water and it’s great to see everyone back in the water!”