South Dakota Again Free of Shark Attacks in 2022

You can add another reason why people are moving to South Dakota... We don't have shark attacks.

If you have ever watched the movie Jaws you probably have been slightly more trepidatious about entering waters. Especially water that could produce a potential encounter with a shark.

That may all be true, but here in South Dakota, you can put your worries aside.

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South Dakota has been able to avoid great white shark attacks for well over a century.

Since data began being kept in 1837, South Dakota has never had an unprovoked shark attack. Think about that for a second, for over 170 years we've been able to stay shark-bite-free. Is it because of South Dakota's leadership and dedication to safety? Or some other unknown factor?

According to the experts at the Florida Museum, unprovoked attacks "are defined as incidents in which an attack on a live human occurs in the shark’s natural habitat with no human provocation of the shark."

Of the 137 shark attacks worldwide in 2021, 73 of them were unprovoked, while 39 were considered provoked. It is worth noting, that none of them occurred in South Dakota.

Looking at the latest data, here are the top five states for shark attacks:

• Florida - 896
• Hawaii - 182
• California - 132
• South Carolina - 111
• North Carolina - 76

So hopefully you feel a lot better next time you take a dip in Wall Lake, Lake Oahe, or the Big Sioux River, knowing you will most likely make it to shore without encountering an angry shark.

For more information on other species you may encounter in the waters throughout South Dakota, you can visit the state's Game, Fish, and Parks Department website.