A man who suffered a foot injury while swimming at Jones Beach over the July Fourth weekend was confirmed to have been bitten by a shark, according to state officials. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said that after consulting with a human-shark interaction expert in F lorida who reviewed photos of the swimmer’s wound, biologists believe the man was bitten by a small sand tiger shark. The DEC added that it appeared to be a transient bite and there’s no evidence supporting an intentional predatory attack. Still, New York State Park Police and lifeguards have been on high alert since the incident, increasing patrols and scanning of the shoreline. “The lifeguards themselves are constantly scanning and the park staff are constantly flying drones looking at Jones Beach,” said Captain Rishi Basdeo.   NBC New York observed state park police launch drones to scan the water. “We are looking for anything of interest,” Lieutenant Alex Goodman told News 4. “Like a large school of bait fish, any large splashes in the water, anything that might look like a fin.” A search using the drone on Wednesday showed the waters were all clear of any sharks. The water was bright blue, and the drone camera could see just below the surface.   Prior to Friday’s shark bite, police had scanned the water in the days before and even after the bite was reported once the air show was over, but had not seen any sharks. That has not been the case in nearby Rockaway Beach in Queens, where officials said there have been a record number of sightings. Since the season began on May 23, there have been 23 shark sightings — 16 of which have happened from July 1 through July 5. State park police have purchased 16 new state-of-the-art drones that will be used over the summer to keep beachgoers safe. Increased surveillance, in part, accounts for the increase in sightings. “It’s a little scary, but I think they’ve got it under control,” said Edward Maguire, of Little Neck, who was strolling on the boardwalk. “Nothing more enjoyable, this is the life,” said beachgoer Jennifer Melecio, of Merrick, who had two small children in tow. “I’m not too worried about what’s out there.” While experts say it is impossible to eliminate the risk altogether, people can take precautions to minimize potential interactions with sharks. Officials urge people to avoid swimming in areas with seals or schools of fish; to avoid swimming at dawn, dusk and night; to stay close to shore and always follow the instructions of lifeguards and the parks’ staff. ...read more read less