Florida saw two separate animal attacks over the weekend, each featuring a large reptilian predator.
Roughly 350 miles apart from each other, one resident saw a rare attack by a crocodile in the Everglades while another was assaulted by an alligator in Central Florida.
What happened in crocodile attack at Everglades National Park?
TheNational Park Servicein a news release said a man swimming at the Flamingo marina in Everglades National Park was attacked by a crocodile on Sunday, March 10.
According to witnesses, the 68-year-old man was pulled underwater. His sailboat capsized in the marina basin and tried to swim to shore with the boat.
The man was treated for a laceration in his leg, the NPS added.
“Rangers and park biologists are continuing to investigate the incident and monitor the suspected crocodile, which is easily identifiable,” read the NPS news release.
What happened in Leesburg's alligator attack?
A man fishing in a Leesburg retirement community pond was attacked by a 9-foot-3-inch alligator on Sunday. According to witness Sally Priest, she saw the man’s arm in the alligator’s mouth and that the creature was rolling on the bank.
After calling 911, she said the alligator stopped its attack and went back into the water. A large crowd gathered to help the injured man. His hand and part of his arm had been bitten off, she said.
A licensed trapper was called, who captured and killed the alligator. The gator was cut open so the victim's hand could be retrieved, but the Daily Commercial wrote one of the rescue workers speculated that it could not be reattached.
This is still an ongoing investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
How many alligators are in Florida? How many American crocodiles are in Florida?
Florida has about 1.3million alligators and roughly 2,000 American crocodiles, according to data from the FWC.
How often do alligator and crocodile attacks occur in Florida?
Over the past 10 years,the FWC confirmed thatFlorida has averaged eight unprovoked alligator bites per yearthat are serious enough to require professional medical treatment.
The likelihood of a Florida resident being seriously injured during an unprovoked alligator incident in Florida is roughly one in 3.1 million.
As for the crocodiles, Florida doesn't really have many attacks in its history. According to FWC, conflicts between humans and crocodiles are “extremely rare” in Florida.
When is alligator mating season?
The courtship between alligators begins in early April, while the officialmating season occurs during the months of May and June, according to theFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. That means some will be on the move.
It has been reported by various environmental officials that due to the higher temperatures this spring, mating season has started a little earlier. FWC states that alligators tend to become more active during the warmer months when the temperatures are between 82 and 92 degrees.
When is crocodile mating season?
The American crocodile's breeding season begins earlier in general, running frommid-February through mid-April.Nesting occurs in late April and early May, with soil nests built on land and above high tide marks. Females will lay 20 to 60 eggs that incubate for about 85 days.
What should I do to stay away from an alligator and crocodiles?
TheFWC works to keep Floridians and visitors informed and recommendsthe following precautionary measures near the reptiles, including in or near the water, to reduce the chances of conflicts with alligators and crocodiles:
- Never feed an alligator or crocodile. It's illegal, and you don't want the gator to start feeling comfortable around humans.
- Listen for hissing. While it might not be after you, an alligator may feel threatened if you're in their territory or approaching their nest and they will hiss to warn you. Avoid piles of twigs, grasses or soil near the side of a lake or river. Avoid any group of alligators under a foot long.
- Do not approach an alligator or crocodile. If you want to take pictures, do it from at least 30 feet away.
- Keep pets on a leash/small children away from the water’s edge. They often resemble their’ natural prey.
- Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet. The reptiles are most active between dusk and dawn.
- Pay attention to warning signs surrounding waterways.
What should I do if I am ever being attacked by an alligator or crocodile?
According to the FWC, the best thing to do is fight back if an alligator or crocodile bites you, providing as much noise and resistance as possible. For example, hitting or kicking a gator or poking it in its eyes may cause it to release its grip. When alligators seize prey they cannot easily overpower, alligators will often let go and retreat.
They also advise those to seek immediate medical attention if bitten. Alligator bites often result in serious infections. In 2004, a Fort Myers woman died from infection after a 12-foot, 457-pound alligator attacked her while she worked on landscaping behind a home on Sanibel Island.
Does running in zig-zags actually deter an alligator?
Not at all, according to an interview with retired trapper"Gator" Bill Robb for Florida Today.
"If you run back and forth, aka zig-zagging, that will shorten the distance between you and the alligator. My advice: raise your hands, look as big as possible, back up, and once you’ve made yourself look large if the alligator doesn’t retreat, get out as fast as you can in a straight line."
How can I safely remove an alligator from my home?
The FWC administers aStatewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP), which aims to proactively address alligator threats in developed areas while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur.
SNAP uses contracted nuisance alligator trappers throughout the state to remove alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets, or property. People with concerns about an alligator should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at866-FWC-GATOR(866-392-4286) to have a contracted nuisance alligator trapper dispatched to resolve the situation.
Contributing reporting: Frank Stanfield, Daily Commercial
