You are far, far, far more likely to be killed or seriously injured during your drive to NC than by a shark. Do you stop driving every time you hear about a car accident?

I see the news reports about the two Oak Island attacks (and at least one expert speculated it could have been the same shark responsible for both attacks). What was the third NC attack?

We'll be vacationing just a little north of that area in August. To be frank, I don't really love going in the ocean anyway, as I am (and have always been) irrationally afraid of sharks. I'll probably stay ankle deep with my toddler anyway, and save the swimming for the pool.

No ocean.

OP here. I need to show these responses to DH. He thinks my mom and I are buying into the media hype but it's way too close for comfort. If we were going to Virginia Beach or OBX that would be one thing... But this is four or five miles down shore.

I would consider sticking to the pool, but would also be watching the news and talking to the lifeguards to figure out the potential risk.

Ugh, I hate overreacting, but I'd stick to the pool as well.

I don't like the way the media is hyping this. Posting stories with pics of Great Whites. Yes, it's scary and something to take note of. But, let's calm down. You're more likely to die on the car ride to the beach.

As for the poor kiddos who were bitten, I would note that the pictures show a pier not very far from where they were pulled out of the water (and thus were presumably swimming). Unfortunately, those ares tend to form natural reefs and people fish/chum off many piers. All of these things attract sharks to the areas around it. Not everyone knows of, remembers, or thinks about these things (I know I often don't and probably should). Who knows if this shark was drawn to the immediate area by the pier or not. But, that's my theory.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know but we're going to OBX in three weeks and I'm also uneasy about the whole thing. DH will not let me say anything to the kids about it (good call on his part). I'm going to start flipping out if they go in past their ankles. We will also have a pool at the house, though.

FYI, the area of the shark attacks is far away from OBX.

We've been watching the shark tracker - with the kids- sporadically for the past two years. It does appear as though there is more activity of the TAGGED ones in that general area meanwhile when we first started there was one that got sort of close- made it in the news and that's it. I'm overall nervous myself given it was in shallow water.
http://www.ocearch.org/

I mean that before in the Atlantic ocean part of the US there was maybe one- now, just seems more activity..

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know but we're going to OBX in three weeks and I'm also uneasy about the whole thing. DH will not let me say anything to the kids about it (good call on his part). I'm going to start flipping out if they go in past their ankles. We will also have a pool at the house, though.

FYI, the area of the shark attacks is far away from OBX.

We've been watching the shark tracker - with the kids- sporadically for the past two years. It does appear as though there is more activity of the TAGGED ones in that general area meanwhile when we first started there was one that got sort of close- made it in the news and that's it. I'm overall nervous myself given it was in shallow water.
http://www.ocearch.org/

Anonymous wrote:I don't know but we're going to OBX in three weeks and I'm also uneasy about the whole thing. DH will not let me say anything to the kids about it (good call on his part). I'm going to start flipping out if they go in past their ankles. We will also have a pool at the house, though.

FYI, the area of the shark attacks is far away from OBX.

I would use the pool but I also was going through my head today how in the world I would handle it seeing a child face something so terrifying and knowing both teens lost their arms. Someone also told me there was an attack Thursday as well. But I am risk adverse and many may swim and be fine. Just my own cost benefit analysis of the risk reward. Kids can still play in the sand, walk the beaches, play volleyball etc.

Anonymous wrote:Leaving this weekend for a week at Bald Head Island (few miles away from this week's three - THREE! - shark attacks). I don't want the kids in the water at all but DH thinks I'm going overboard. These kids were attacked in waist-deep water in the same area... WWYD? Luckily we have a pool to swim in but I do feel bad saying no ocean when we're at the beach.

I'd stick to the pool. Usually I wouldn't get all chicken little over the situation but it was three attacks in shallow water, so I'd keep my children and myself out of the ocean.

I don't know but we're going to OBX in three weeks and I'm also uneasy about the whole thing. DH will not let me say anything to the kids about it (good call on his part). I'm going to start flipping out if they go in past their ankles. We will also have a pool at the house, though.

Go, but stick to the pool. Now I know why the houses have pools in NC!

Leaving this weekend for a week at Bald Head Island (few miles away from this week's three - THREE! - shark attacks). I don't want the kids in the water at all but DH thinks I'm going overboard. These kids were attacked in waist-deep water in the same area... WWYD? Luckily we have a pool to swim in but I do feel bad saying no ocean when we're at the beach.