In the jaws of summer, social distancing takes on new meaning when it comes to sharks. For the most part, congregating on beaches is off limits during the COVID-19 situation. However, a global pandemic hasn't stopped some from swimming, surfing or scuba diving. This year, as of August 3, there have been 14 shark attacks in the U.S., including a recent fatality off the coast of Maine.
Viewing or reading about sharks is far better from a distance. Mechanics' Institute has a variety of shark films and selections of reading material to satisfy your curiosity about one of nature's most deadly yet misunderstood creatures.
Films about sharks on Kanopy, Mechanics' Institute's streaming service:
Great White Shark - Part of the PBS Maneater Series, Mark Evans travels to Western Australia, where seven people have been killed by sharks. Evans is exploring non-lethal ways to keep sharks--and people--safe.
Sharks: Stewards of the Reef - Green Planet Films examines the escalating threats to shark population decline.
Shark Reef - Part of the PBS series Saving the Ocean, this film examines innovative efforts to protect sharks from the devastating effects of the global shark fin trade.
Saving Jaws - Join biologist Ocean Ramsey and her team as they travel the globe trying to halt the looming extinction of sharks.
Great White Lies - This film examines the reputation of sharks as monsters of the deep.
Books (all materials can be reserved through (MI's To Go contactless library service):
Demon Fish: travels through the hidden world of sharks by Juliet Eilperin - In this globe-spanning adventure, environmental journalist Juliet Eilperin investigates the ways different individuals and cultures relate to the ocean's top predator.
Jaws by Peter Benchley - One could say this is the book that started an extreme shark-watching phenomenon. In any case, Benchley's dramatic tale is the ultimate summer reading material. Read it first, then watch the movie Jaws on DVD.
The Secret Life of Sharks: a leading marine biologist reveals the mysteries of shark behavior by A. Peter Klimley - The author challenges misconceptions about natural shark behavior, describing their intricate social relationships, their preference for non-human prey and their elaborate biological survival activities.
Surviving the Shark: how a brutal great white shark turned a surfer into a dedicated defender of sharks by Jonathan Kathrein and Margaret Kathrein - After surviving a shark attack off Stinson Beach in Northern California, the author uses his story to raise awareness about sharks and ocean conservation.
