Juvenile Bull Sharks Thriving in Texas and Alabama Estuaries

SOURCE www.semafor.com
Juvenile bull sharks are thriving in the warming waters of Texas and Alabama’s estuaries, with their numbers increasing in the last 40 years. Researchers have detected a fivefold rise in sightings of baby sharks in Mobile Bay, Alabama, and several Texas rivers. Adult bull sharks can be aggressive, but juveniles are no threat to humans and seem to use the estuaries as protection from bigger predators.

Key Points

  • Juvenile bull sharks are thriving in the warming waters of Texas and Alabama estuaries.
  • Their numbers have increased in the last 40 years in the US Southwest.
  • Researchers have detected a fivefold rise in sightings of baby sharks in Mobile Bay, Alabama, and several Texas rivers.
  • Adult bull sharks can be aggressive, but juveniles are no threat to humans and seem to use the estuaries as protection from bigger predators.

Pros

  • Bull sharks are famously resilient and can survive in fresh water, unlike most sharks.
  • Juvenile bull sharks pose no threat to humans and seem to use the estuaries as protection from bigger predators.

Cons

  • Other fish species have declined in the warming waters.