The Bull Shark: The Most Dangerous Shark in the WorldYes, there are sharks in Alabama, and they can be dangerous. In the Gulf Shores area the one that is most likely to take a bite out of swimmer is the bull shark. Bulls are one of the three most dangerous shark species in the world, along with the tiger shark and the great white shark. Because they like to swim in shallow water, some experts believe that bulls are the most dangerous of the three. At a maximum length of 10 feet and a maximum weight of 500 pounds, bull sharks don't rank anywhere near the top of the world's largest sharks. But they are at the top of the list for aggressiveness. No animal on earth has the testosterone levels of a bull shark, and that includes animals like the big cats of Africa, elephants, and grizzly bears.   Bulls sharks are solitary ambush predators. When targeting prey, bulls either investigate with a "bump and bite" or employ a rush attack, inflicting maximum damage. The lower, spiked teeth of a bull shark are built to hold prey. The upper, serrated triangular teeth gouge flesh from the body. The bull shark doesn't hesitate to attack prey much bigger than it is. It will eat almost anything. Bulls are responsible for most of the world's shark attacks. But as aggressive as these creatures are, attacks are rare. Elephants kill about 500 people each year. 150 people die each year from falling coconuts. Worldwide, 10 people die from shark attacks each year. That's not a lot of shark fatalities considering how many people swim and wade in the sea. You have a better chance of winning the lottery than being attacked by a shark. Sharks generally do not consider humans to be prey. When they attack, it is is usually because they've confused the human with something that they actually do like to eat. If an attack victim is lucky, the shark will take one bite and realize it made a mistake. Bulls are the only sharks that frequent water shallow enough for humans to wade in. Scientists also believe that they are territorial. Swimmers might be just be splashing away, having fun, but a bull might sense that it is being boxed in a corner and take a bite on his way to deeper water. Though there is no way to totally eliminate the possibility of becoming a victim of a shark attack, these tips will decrease the possibility.
Unlike other shark species, bulls can tolerate freshwater. They have been found in the Mississippi River as far north as Alton, Illinois. In South America, bulls have been sighted 2,610 miles up the Amazon River in the foothills of the Peruvian Andes. If a body of water is deep enough to pass through, that's good enough for a bull. Bull sharks often breed in brackish water. On the Alabama Gulf Coast, shark fishing is not permitted within 300 feet of the coastline. On the Gulf State Park Pier in Gulf Shores, it is illegal to bring a shark onto the pier.
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