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."

Sydney Beach Closed After Shark Attack
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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.

10 Deadliest Creatures in US: South Dakota Has Lots of Them

The deadliest animal in the U.S. isn’t the alligator or bear or even the mighty shark. In fact, the answer may surprise you.

It may also surprise you how many of these creatures can be found in South Dakota.

Here's the top 10:

7 Most Common Snakes in South Dakota

South Dakota may not have creepy crawlies like they do in Australia. But, there are a fair amount of snakes to be found here.
A few can be found in the Black Hills, some enjoy life on the west-river plains and several are concentrated in the southeastern part of the state along the Missouri River.

There are seven common species of snake that can be found throughout the state, including our one venomous species.

 

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