In New York City, the “people bite more than sharks” stat isn’t a myth — it reflects how rare shark bites actually are. Historical records show hundreds of human bite reports annually in past decades, while shark bites have been almost nonexistent
Even with recent shark sightings near Rockaway and Long Island, the U.S. recorded only about 28 shark bites in 2024, with just a handful in New York. In NYC, you’re still far more likely to be bitten by a person than a shark
In New York City, the “people bite more than sharks” stat isn’t a myth — it reflects how rare shark bites actually are. Historical records show hundreds of human bite reports annually in past decades, while shark bites have been almost nonexistent
Even with recent shark sightings near Rockaway and Long Island, the U.S. recorded only about 28 shark bites in 2024, with just a handful in New York. In NYC, you’re still far more likely to be bitten by a person than a shark