The floodwaters that crashed into many communities brought many unique dangers. The storm surge concealed physical hazards, helped toxic chemicals spread, and even facilitated the spread of dangerous creatures, including at least one shark. The Florida hurricane’s storm surge helped marine animals gain access to suburban areas, as is the case with this video. The news report shows an inundated neighborhood. In the distance, a creature that appears to be a shark thrashes about in the water. The news report says that experts couldn’t confirm if it was a shark. They also didn’t speculate on what type of shark was swimming in the neighborhood. Some people believed that it could be a juvenile nurse shark or a bull shark. Others seem to think it may not have been a shark at all. Still, although they’re not as dangerous as ocean whitetips or mako sharks, bull sharks and nurse sharks are not fish that humans want to encounter. Sadly, the sharks transported inland by floodwaters will probably die as the waters recede. Some of them may be stranded on beaches or in the areas surrounding bays, unable to get back to their marine habitats. In this video, it was clear that the water was barely deep enough for that shark to swim. Some of the sharks may have purposely used the floodwaters to seek out new prey, and they could also become trapped when the water recedes. The floodwaters resulting from Hurricane Ian allowed many other potentially deadly creatures into suburban areas. People that have returned home to clean up and rebuild have encountered greater numbers of venomous snakes and alligators. Someone reaching into a pile of debris could find themselves bitten by a cottonmouth or rattlesnake. Those injuries are dangerous in the best of times. However, venomous snake bites could prove fatal in an area where medical infrastructure has been pushed to its limits in recent weeks. As the cleanup in the area continues, people will likely come into contact with greater numbers of dangerous animals. People working in these damaged areas should wear protective equipment, be aware of their surroundings, and always heed warnings from local first responders that are familiar with the unique dangers in these areas. While it’s unlikely that anyone will encounter a shark in their neighborhood weeks after the Florida hurricane, it’s always wise to learn about this rare potential danger that emerges following a storm.
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