Category Archives: Guest Post

Shark Bites in the USA

The USA has the most reported shark attacks in the world. What could be the reason for this? Are Americans so well nourished that they taste better? Could be, but all the references I have read say that a shark attack is most probably an “accident”. The shark had mistaken the human for his more usual meal such as a seal or another fish.

One reason the United States is at the top of the list is that the U.S. has a very large combined coastal shoreline. Another reason is the increase of recreational marine activities, and recreational marine activities expose people to all aquatic dangers including shark attacks.

No doubt, a high level of reporting of attacks is also a factor. Not all coastal countries publish a complete record of shark attacks. Publishing such reports could adversely affect the tourist trade. In addition to the USA some of the other countries that have reported shark bites are Africa, Central & S Am, Australia and Pacific Islands.

In the U.S 60% of all shark attacks are reported by the state of Florida. California reports about 15%, this is closely followed by Hawaii. Most coastal states have at one time or another reported a shark attack. Most of the attacks are not fatal. Most of the attacks are done by a contact bite, then the shark swims away. The victim can be left with a maiming wound or deformity. Fatal attacks are mainly due to the bull shark, tiger shark, or the great white shark and the Oceanic white tip shark. (Pictures and information about these sharks can be found at Dangerous animals–Sharks). In recent years the entire east coast has had a growing problem with aggressive sharks. The reason for the increase is being researched.

Overall shark attacks are extremely rare – “Lightning strikes humans more often than sharks bite humans”. The International Shark Attack File reports that world wide there are 50 – 70 unprovoked shark attacks a year. The number of shark attacks is increasing because the human population is increasing and recreational use of the shark habitat, oceans and coastlines, is increasing. Even though there are 50 to 70 attacks a year the number of fatalities are low.

Wikipedia has a list of the fatal, unprovoked shark attacks in the US. The records start in 1779 up to the recent. The more recent records state the age of the victims and other information that is interesting reading and gives some explanation of the event. A summary of the records show that there were 13 deaths from 2000 to 2010. Three of the years, 2002, 2006 and 2007, did not have any deaths. The years 2001 and 2004 had 3 deaths each. So far in 2010 there have been two reported deaths due to shark bites, but the year is not over.

Basics Of Sit On Top Kayaks

Oh, those wonderful days of lake or ocean fishing in an old rowboat with oars that kept slipping out of the oarlocks. Actually, back then most of us never heard of a kayak let alone used one for fishing. Today, sit on top kayaks for fishing is the rage, not only for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts, but the whole family as well.

Modern kayaks today come in different shapes and sizes to cater to various water sport activities.  There are whitewater kayaks which have a short and wide hull profile for stability and maneuverability.  The ocean or touring kayaks are slender in shape and built for speed.  Recreational kayaks are a hybrid of whitewater and touring kayaks.  This model is aimed at the general consumer market and is versatile enough to use for fishing or just a great way to spend time outdoors with the kids on the weekends.  These craft are made of polyethylene or fiberglass materials which make them very durable and light.

Recreational kayaks come in two configurations, sit on top and sit in kayak.  Sit on top kayak is a popular choice for fishermen due to accessibility, stability and transportability.  The two seat version, or tandem kayaks, are geared toward casual paddlers.  They are great for leisure water activities around ponds and small lakes.  Used kayaks are a great way to get into the sport and will not break the bank.  The best way to know which kayak fits you most is to test it out on the water if possible.

However, before you hit the water, it is highly recommended that you take a few kayaking lessons and always go with someone else with more experience.  Practice your kayaking skills in calm water like ponds and harbors.  If you are planning to paddle on the ocean, ensure to familiarize yourself with the tide chart and weather report.  Always wear your PDF while on the water and dress for the weather.

Purchasing Caravan Porch Awnings

When you are going camping, it is nice to have your own motorhome. This can be a lot of fun to take the entire family on a trip. You never know what the weather is going to be like on your trip. Sometimes it ends up raining and this is beyond your control. If you have motorhome awnings, you can save the day by still being able to enjoy the great outdoors on your trip.

Just imagine going outside and sitting under your caravan porch awnings. You will be able to relax and listen to the rain while enjoying your meal. Your lightweight caravan porch awnings will have saved the day. This is something that you want to purchase to add on to the current caravan that you already own. These are affordable and will need to be purchased after you originally buy your motorhome.

These are very affordable and a great add on for any camper. You can also use them to simply stay away from the bugs and wind. A lot of bugs can ruin the day especially if you have children along with you on the trip. The comfort of porch awnings will make your entire trip a lot more enjoyable. Do not put off buying this and then have your next vacation ruined by mother nature and things beyond your control.

Shop around and find the perfect caravan porch awnings for you. There are many different options available such as full awnings and smaller porch areas. You can even put a sleeping bag out here and enjoy the sounds of nature while you sleep. It is also perfect if you have a few extra people come along on the trip and they need somewhere to stay. Blow up a mattress for them and they are set for the night. Consider caravan porch awnings for your camping trips.

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5 Tips for Camping with Children
Camping Chairs That Move
Considerations for the best camping tents
Essential Equipment For Family Holiday Camping Trips
Go take a family camping trip

Tips for Buying Your First Pair of Bird Watching Binoculars

If you are interested in bird watching and don’t have binoculars to help you out, you are definitely missing out on quite a bit. When you buy a quality pair of bird watching binoculars you no longer to squint trying to see what exactly you are looking at or climb up a tree to get the best view. You will be amazed at what binoculars can do for your hobby and they don’t have to cost a fortune.

Many people avoid buying binoculars because it can be confusing with all the different styles and models available. Some people also assume that a good bird watching binocular will cost you several hundred dollars but that is not true at all. The thing to remember when buying binoculars is that they all have two numbers which can tell you a lot about them. The first number is the power of the lens while the second is the field of vision or how much area you can see through the lens. So, for example, the Bushnell Falcon 10×50 would mean it has a power of 10 magnification and it has a 50 millimeter lens.

When looking to buy bird watching binoculars you need to keep a few things in mind such as how fast you focus on an object. Some of these products will have instant focus levers and buttons that make the job of focusing so much easier. You don’t want to miss seeing a bird flying away because you can’t focus your lenses properly.

Another thing to consider is the weight of the binoculars. If you like to bird watch for several hours at a time you don’t want to get a heavy pair that is gets too heavy for you to have around your neck or to even hold. Look for lightweight options so that you can use them for longer periods of time.

Lastly, realize that you may have to negotiate on some aspects of your binoculars. For example if you want a higher magnification to see birds up close and personal you may have to look for a pair that doesn’t have as wide of range. On the other hand if you want to have wide angle binoculars you have to remember that the magnification or power may not be as good as some of the higher priced models.

If you are still having trouble looking for a quality pair of bird watching binoculars that doesn’t cost you a fortune you may want to see if you can get a recommendation from other bird watchers. If you belong to a bird watching group, an outdoorsman group or some kind of bird watching forum online ask other people what model they are using. This is probably one of the best ways to find a pair that works well and will have you enjoying your hobby all day long.

Reasons to Own a Biometric Safe

When it comes to guns, safety should always be considered. Even with a gun safe, you still worry about your children getting in the safe or losing it should you be robbed. Sometimes a wall safe for the home is just not enough. However, advances in technology have given us a biometric gun safe. These new safes are the new technology making our homes safer and putting our minds at ease.

A biometric gun safe is also known as a fingerprint safe that is a small safe usually used for handguns. What makes this safe a biometric safe is the type of lock that is on it. Biometric gun safes are also called fingerprint gun safes for good reason. This is because the lock on it works by fingerprint access only. It allows only the people whose fingerprints are programmed into the memory to gain access to the safe. Manufacturers have made it quite simple for you and other people that you would like to be able to program your fingerprints into the memory. When you want to open the biometric gun safe you just simply put your finger to the sensor pad, and the memory reads your fingerprints.

Reasons to own a biometric gun safe are quite simple. This type of safe allows you to have the type of security you want. Only those whose fingerprints that are stored in the memory are able to open the safe. This means that your children cannot get into it, and strangers cannot as well. This type of safe also allows you to get access to your weapons quickly. You won’t have to take the time to enter a code or find a key. This type of safe allows you quick, simple access. Just think if you are in a hurry because someone is threatening you you may not be able to think straight. It would be harder to even think about or remember a code. These are a few of the reasons that a biometric gun safe is one of the best safes for the home.