Additional Coverage:
- Suspected great white shark attack in Northern California as surfer barely escapes unscathed (themirror.com)
Surfer Evades Injury in Suspected Great White Shark Encounter Off Dillon Beach
A surfer off the coast of Marin County’s Dillon Beach experienced a close call on Monday morning when their surfboard was damaged in a suspected great white shark attack. The incident, which occurred around 9 or 10 a.m. near the mouth of Tomales Bay, left the surfer unharmed, though shaken.
Graham Groneman, a battalion chief with the Marin County Fire Department, noted that the area is a known hunting ground for great white sharks and a location where shark experts conduct research. Following the incident, warning signs advising of potential shark activity have been posted at the beach.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is investigating the attack. Peter Tira, a CDFW information officer, confirmed that investigators collected DNA samples from the damaged surfboard to identify the shark species involved. Due to the holiday season, analysis results are not expected immediately.
This marks the second shark encounter in the Marin and Sonoma County coastal areas this month. On December 12, a surfer was hospitalized after being attacked at North Salmon Creek Beach in Bodega Bay, sustaining a hand injury and surfboard damage.
Groneman suggested that an increase in sea lion populations in the region, a primary food source for great white sharks, could be contributing to more frequent shark encounters. Experts emphasize that shark attacks on humans are rare and often occur when sharks mistake surfboards or other watercraft for prey.
CDFW data dating back to 1950 reveals 229 documented shark encounters along the California coast where sharks made physical contact with people, boards, or kayaks. Of these, 199 incidents involved great white sharks. Marin County has recorded 18 such incidents, and Sonoma County 16.