3 shark bites on Long Island in 2 days raise concerns: 'This is our new normal'
New York State has expanded its beach monitoring capabilities with drone surveillance after several reported shark bites last summer.
Long Island shark attacks on the rise over Fourth of July holiday
Three Long Island beachgoers were bitten by sharks during the Fourth of July holiday with three bites in two days.
LONG ISLAND, N.Y. -- Two swimmers were apparently attacked by sharks off the shores of Long Island on Tuesday, a day after two others reported being attacked while enjoying the water at popular New York beaches.
A school of about 50 sand sharks was spotted swimming some 200 yards off Field 3 at Robert Moses on Tuesday morning, reports FOX 5 New York.
They were seen the same day as police say two men were reportedly bitten by sharks - one in the hand at Fire Island Pines and the other in the knee out in Quogue.
"This is our new normal," said George Gorman, regional director with New York State Parks.
Tuesday's incidents happened just before 2 p.m., about 60 miles apart, including one attack off Fire Island Pines.
TEEN SURFER ATTACKED BY SHARK OFF NEW JERSEY COAST: 'IT PULLED ME DOWN A LITTLE BIT'
A 47-year-old man was in chest-deep water off Quogue Village Beach in the Hamptons when he felt an apparent bite to his right knee, Quogue police said. He told authorities that he did not see a shark.
As a precaution, Quogue police advised swimmers to stay out of the water until officials could assess the risks.
A shark seen by a New York lifeguard drone. (Image: JB Lifeguard team)
(FOX Weather)
Soon after, just miles away, a 49-year-old man reported having a hand bitten while swimming near Fire Island Pines Beach.
On Monday, a 15-year-old male swimmer was bitten in the heel and toes by a reported shark at Kismet. A 15-year-old girl at Robert Moses came out of the water with three small puncture wounds on her leg from an unidentified fish.
Shark interactions trending down across the world
New York State has expanded its monitoring capabilities with drone surveillance after several reported shark bites last summer.
GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH SHOWS GREAT WHITE SHARKS MAY CHANGE COLOR TO BETTER HUNT THEIR PREY
According to the Global Shark Attack File, there are about a dozen fatal incidents involving sharks each year around the world. Over the last several years, shark interactions have actually been trending down. Experts say the sharks aren’t interested in us.
"We are way too big, they eat tiny fish, that’s why we see ankle biter type incidences because the foot is the size of the bait," said OCEARCH founder Chris Fischer.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.