Shark attacks up as more people visit beach

Federal wildlife protection programs are helping shark populations to rebound, but they aren't the sole reason for the uptick in encounters between sharks and humans.

The growing human population and increasing use of beaches are major factors too, scientists say.

Recent shark attacks in North Carolina and Florida have made headlines as the summer beach season gets into gear. Such attacks have become more common in recent years. The Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File says the number of unprovoked attacks has grown in every decade since the 1970s.