Forrest Galante Shares 6 Shark Safety Tips as 'Alien Sharks' Premieres Wednesday

Q: Could the crinkle of an everyday water bottle really trick a predator into thinking you are its next meal?

Yes, it could attract a shark’s attention, but not because the shark suddenly “thinks you are food” from the sound alone. Forrest Galante’s point fits what scientists know about shark behavior: sharks investigate cues that resemble prey. A crinkling plastic bottle or beer can underwater may create crackling sounds that resemble the noise of struggling fish or fish bones, enough to spark curiosity in some species. That is different from a shark positively identifying a person as prey. Sharks hunt with several senses at once. They are highly tuned to movement, contrast in low light, vibrations, and, at close range, electrical signals through the ampullae of Lorenzini. Reflective objects such as jewelry can mimic flashing baitfish visually, while unusual sounds may add another cue. In murky water or at dawn and dusk, when visibility is poorer and feeding activity can rise, those mixed signals may increase the chance of an investigative approach. That still needs context: Galante stressed that humans usually are “not even on the menu.” Many shark bites are believed to be mistaken identity or exploratory bites, not deliberate predation. The overall risk of a shark bite remains very low. So the practical takeaway is simple. Do not rely on any single noise to trigger an attack, but avoid unnecessary attractants. Skip crinkling bottles or cans in the water, leave off shiny accessories, stay out at dawn and dusk, avoid river mouths and active fishing areas, and do not swim alone.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 26

Forrest Galante said beachgoers can further cut their already slim risk of a shark encounter by following simple rules during Shark Week.
Galante's main advice: avoid the water at dawn or dusk, stay away from river mouths and fishing areas, and do not swim alone.
He also warned against shiny jewelry and even crackling bottles or crushing beer cans, saying flashes and sounds can draw curious sharks investigating possible prey.
Galante said about 99% of shark bites are cases of mistaken identity, stressing that humans usually are not on sharks' menu.
His Discovery and Max special, "Alien Sharks: Untamed America," premieres Wednesday and follows rare U.S. species including glow-in-the-dark swell sharks, bonnetheads, basking sharks and sawfish.