Shark attacks have been getting quite a bit of coverage lately. It seems like every time somebody gets attacked by a shark the media has a frenzy complete with scare stories and 'round-the-clock coverage.

Where here's a little tid-bit of information that puts all these paroxysms over shark attacks into perspective.

"Visitors coming to the beach in North Carolina shouldn't be overly concerned with an encounter with a shark," Barrington said. "They'll have far more perils driving to the beach than they would with a shark."

In fact, Barrington said, studies have concluded Americans are far more likely to get bitten by a domesticated pig than by a shark. Furthermore, he said, U.S. residents can expect to be killed by falling coconuts more often than they'll be killed by sharks.

Yet, strangely, you don't see coconut experts on the network news channels warning people to be careful around palm trees after some guy gets brained by one.