When you think of sharks, the Great White and Tiger Sharks probably are the first ones to come to mind. Bull sharks are also among the most common types of sharks, and actually can be the most likely to harm humans!

They are called “Bull Sharks” because of their stout appearance. They are shorter and proportionally more stout than their larger cousins, the Great White and Tiger. They are also called “bulls” because they tend to head butt their prey before attacking.

There’s a ton of questions people have about the Bull Shark, and we’ll answer some of the most common ones in this article!

Is the bull shark fast?

The Bull Shark is fast but not the fastest of all sharks. That title goes to the Shortfin Mako, which reportedly can sustain speeds around 31 mph, but bursts well above that. The Bull Shark usually has a top speed of about 25 miles per hour. Some reports say they typically swim about 11 miles per hour.

This great speed helps them hunt a wide variety of prey like: tuna, marlin, shrimp, seals and even dolphins. All these other types of fish or mammals are fast and evasive, so the bull shark needs all its speed to catch up.

Remember that even though a shark’s body is made to glide through the water, it still takes a lot of energy to swim fast. So, a shark has to balance swimming fast to catch prey with being efficient and not burning too many calories. This is why they will usually reserve a fast burst when prey is in reach.

Has a bull shark ever eaten a human?

Bull sharks have definitely killed humans! There are 27 known humans who have been killed, but over several hundred years, so it's not terribly common. Some people feel that the number of fatalities caused by Bull Sharks may be higher because they look so similar to other deadly species like the Tiger and Great White Sharks.

Whether the bull shark has actually eaten a whole human isn’t known. It’s entirely possible they have, but this has never been confirmed. It’s important to remember that a human is not something the shark seeks as prey.

Do bull sharks attack humans?

Bull Sharks most certainly attack humans, and they do so fairly commonly. The good news is the attacks are rarely fatal. The bad news is that shark bites can be permanently disfiguring and horrifically painful.

One reason Bull Sharks may attack humans frequently is that their habit is coastal waters, frequently populated by surfers, swimmers, boaters and beach goers. Humans are not Bull Sharks prey of choice though, they prefer fish.

Throughout the world, people are experimenting with technology that can protect humans from shark attacks. One approach is to extend a net around areas where people swim. However, other animals can get trapped, so it doesn’t seem like the best approach. More needs to be learned about how people and Bull Sharks can coexist.

Why are bull sharks aggressive?

Bull Sharks, and most other types of sharks are aggressive because this is how they survive! We as humans might think of it as mean and nasty to chase prey and chomp it down with razor-like teeth. For a shark, this is just a regular day! Other fish are fast and can swim away quickly, so if a shark wants to eat and survive, it needs to be fast and furious.

Remember as aggressive as bull sharks, and other sharks are, much of the time the prey gets away before they can eat. Slower and less aggressive Bull Sharks just can’t live as long if they don’t have the drive kill and do it quickly.

Are bull sharks friendly?

Bull Sharks are not friendly, but at the same time, they are not mean. Animals like sharks aren’t capable of concepts of morality like humans. They know if they don’t kill and eat their prey, they will die themselves from starvation.

So, even though humans aren’t part of their usual diet, any living thing they see in the water is a potential food source for them. So while you might think it's fun to reach out and pet a Bull Shark, they aren’t going to be your friend!

The best way to see a bull shark up close is at an aquarium. The largest collection of bull sharks in an aquarium is ironically about as far from the ocean as you can get. It’s at the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks, OK, located about 30 minutes south of Tulsa. There, you can get a really up close view of 10 bull sharks. You can always wave hello, but don’t expect them to wave back!

What is special about the bull shark?

These extraordinary animals, though dangerous, are a true marvel of the planet earth. They can swim vast oceans, and survive in multiple types of water. There’s some other interesting facts as well!

One of the most special things about the Bull Shark is their ability to survive in fresh water for a fairly long time. Most sharks need to be in saltwater to survive. Since the habitat of the Bull Shark is coastal water that can be brackish or fresh, they adapted to survive in multiple salinity conditions.

Unlike many species, Bull Shark females are nearly twice as heavy as the males. Not much is really known as to why this is the case. We do know that a female can have between 1 and 13 offspring in her lifetime.

Another fascinating thing that makes the bull shark special is that because they can survive in freshwater, they have been found in rivers, where no other sharks are found. One was found way up the Mississippi in Illinois once!

Perhaps because of the shape of the Bull Shark’s body, their bite is more powerful than the Great White Shark. Watch your fingers, arms, legs and anything else when you are nearby!

Bull sharks are also very adaptable to different foods. In addition to the list above, they’ve been known to eat sea otters, lobsters, oysters, bluefish and even stingrays. They have to eat those stingrays fast before those powerful ray tails whip them in the nose!

Works Cited

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/bull-shark https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/bull-shark https://www.treehugger.com/bull-shark-facts-5073755