Sharks

Also Friday, reported back-to-back shark attacks led authorities to temporarily close beaches to swimmers in Walton County, on the Florida Panhandle.

A Florida diver came face-to-face with an entangled nurse shark as he worked to free the animal from the coral blue waters of Destin.

An American tourist has lost her leg after being bitten by a shark while vacationing in Turks and Caicos, police say.

The shark released the man after he used a diving knife to defend himself, authorities said.

Research from the longest-running study of shark mating behavior in the world is highlighting the importance of protecting a critical habitat for sharks and rays in Florida after the vulnerable location took a direct hit from Hurricane Ian at the end of September.

Shark activity along the beaches of the U.S. Northeast has increased in recent years amid a rising seal population and conservation efforts, experts say.

A family member reportedly jumped in the water and “beat the shark” until the girl was freed.

One local beach temporarily closed due to a sighting.

"We were surprised to find that the sharks we tracked spent so much time near the lights and sounds of the busy city, often close to shore, no matter the time of day," the study author said.