9781422276716

Circling is usually a hunting behavior and means you should get away.

WHY IS IT UNUSUAL FOR BLUE SHARKS TO KILL PEOPLE? Just like the great white shark, blue sharks do not seem to be big fans of the taste of people! It’s likely that humans are simply too bony for their tastes. Blue sharks prefer to eat invertebrates (animals without backbones) such as squid and shrimp, which are less bony by nature. Since blue sharks are constant swimmers, they need to prey on animals that have a lot of fat on their bodies. Human beings simply do not have enough fat to meet the dietary needs of the blue shark. Fat has far more calories than muscle or bone, and can help sustain the blue shark over its long migratory journeys. Nevertheless, blue sharks are opportunistic eaters, and do have a tendency to take a bite of whatever comes their way! Usually, when a blue shark bites a human, they realize that they’d rather swim away and find something else to eat. If a blue shark does actually prey on a human, it’s likely because the shark’s preferred food source is scarce, and they’re having trouble finding enough food to meet their caloric needs.

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