SANIBEL, Fla. A man is in the hospital after an alligator bit him Thursday morning on Sanibel Island, and according to Florida's Fish and Wildlife, the gator will be put to sleep. Alligator attacks man who was washing hands in pond - Sun Sentinel The man was able to free himself and call 911, but sustained serious injury to his right forearm. The Sanibel Police Department received a 911 call shortly after 11am after a man was bitten in a pond near a general store on the island.. An alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WSVN-TV. There is no way she (Olin) could have seen it.". They need to do something about it., Its unbelievable, said Rudder, 39. Crews said the victim was washing is hands in a pond. Enter one or more recipient email addresses separated by commas or spaces. Now we've decided to share a little sunshine with those all over the world! Between poor water quality and damage from Hurricane Ian, this years wildlife surveys hold extra weight, and researchers are paying special attention to Floridas winter shorebird count. I can say that gentleman was sitting there with a temporary tourniquet, which is one of the things that saved his life from hemorrhaging, said Dr. Benjamin Abo. There were three in the truck, but the one from the attack is the biggest one. The public may view the reports by going to WSVN.com and clicking on "FCC Public File", or by visiting the FCC's website at FCC.org. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn. When the weather starts to warm, alligators become active, feeding more, looking for new territories and mating. Mayor Marty Harrity met Friday with directors of the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. Steve Yetsko who called Sanibel police officers the real heroes in Melseks rescue said hes never had a serious problem with a gator. Latest News Updates for Sanibel Island & SWFL. FWC. If an Alligator is chasing you RUN STRAIGHT. After the gator was captured FWC's gator trappers gave Fox 4 a closer look at the gator that bit a man's arm. "A landscaping woman was clearing out weeds in the decorative pond when she reached in and an alligator came up and grabbed her," Adams said. The man was able to free himself from the. Hes my service dog, so he saves my life a lot, Pitts said. , there was a time they almost became extinct. The skin was very torn up on his arm. The victim told Abo that he was trying to keep the alligator from pulling him into the water, and that if the nearly 10-foot animal rolled, a technique alligators use to harm prey, he would roll with it. He was taken to an area hospital; his current condition is unknown at this time. It was the state's first such fatal attack since 2007. And myself, along with the fire department, were just a couple of minutes away, and were there pretty quickly to put on a commercial grade tourniquet and south of bleeding and do our assessment and provide emergency medical care for him, Abo said. 8:49 PM EST, Mon December 19, 2022 A A SANIBEL, Fla. A man was hospitalized after an alligator bit him on the arm. The gator, a 12-foot, 3-inch male was removed and destroyed. The City of Sanibel | 800 Dunlop Road | Sanibel, FL 33957. Experts trapped the cold blooded animal with meat and lassoed it. A photo of the aftermath of the attack is so graphic we had to blur it, but with a closer look, you can see the reason the man in this photo is still alive. Leave alligators alone. Name, age, sex Date . Please do your part in protecting the Island's wildlife by not feeding alligators. Observe and photograph alligators only from a distance. One of the best places to see crocodiles in Florida is also Everglades National Park!. Pitts says you never know whats lurking below the waters surface. Sadly, there was a time they almost became extinct. Full story: https://t.co/s8YiqlIH9V pic.twitter.com/E1AvLHu7IS, Hes a big guy, he said his arm was hurting pretty good," said Sanibel Fire's Division Chief Tim Barrett. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. Officials said the man was able to free himself and call 911. Do not swim outside of posted swimming areas or in waters that might be inhabited by large alligators. Dispose of fish scraps in garbage cans at freshwater boat ramps, docks or fish camps. Weve had too many attacks recently, I think, said Smith, 62. They say theres 300 of them on this island.. A 54-year-old landscaper, Melsek was attacked Wednesday by an alligator that was 11 feet, 9 inches long and weighed 457 pounds. During cooler months, alligators are generally lethargic and do not move around much. Top 9 Beautiful Beaches On Sanibel & Captiva Island 2022, 19 Best Restaurants On Sanibel Island 2022: A Local's Guide, The Ultimate Local Guide To Shelling On Sanibel Island 2022, 1619 Periwinkle Way, Suite 104 United States - sad news of an Alligator attack on Sanibel - A woman who had worked on Sanibel for many years was attacked by an alligator while working. The man was able to free. 9 years ago Save Actually, Sanibel has a gator population estimated at about 300-350 gators, mostly due to the fact 65% of the island is protected conservation land and there are numerous small lakes and ponds for them to live in. How much should your insurance company pay, and can an adjuster stack on costs? Its sad to see people cant go out in the yard and garden, said Cardenas, 34. Gators are common in Florida and Chief Barrett said they respond to these types of calls more often than you will think. It usually sat on the bank across the pond, she said. is 6,400 Acres of preserved and undeveloped mangrove ecosystem land. Beaches remain closed on the island without boardwalks, and debris is scattered everywhere. If you see an alligator, the best thing to do is leave it alone. Wind gusts will not become as strong as yesterday. Their metabolism is very slow and they are not the ravenous monsters some think they are. Medical professionals applied a commercial-grade tourniquet and took the man to a hospital. . May 13, 2006: On the same day Campbell's body was found, the body of Judy W. Cooper, 43, was found in a canal 20 miles north of St. Petersburg, in Pinellas County. 1401 79th Street Causeway His mother told authorities he had been standing in knee-deep water picking water lilies for her. We just want to see a sensible distance between the two! The only Gator bite you want is just over the causeway offering great food, excellent service, live entertainment, and a large outdoor patio. About 50 yards from where Cardenas and her co-workers took a smoke, Andrew Myerson, 39, sat in a small clearing next to a creek where gators are seen so often that signs warn visitors that its against the law to feed them. It seems to have worked for years. Attached to the Shipley Trail and close to the Bailey Homestead. We can tell you how to appreciate these mighty creatures safely, respectfully, and responsibly. Abo has treated several alligator bites over the years, and commented on dangers of human-alligator run-ins. Sometimes they will use a big hook, and a large piece of meat and throw it out there and catch him, Chief Barrett said. Inform others that feeding alligators is illegal and creates problems for others who want to use the water for recreational purposes and ultimately results in the need to destroy the animal. The man was able to free himself and call . (2022), The Sanibel and Captiva Farmers Markets (2022), 11 Local Favorites For A Sanibel Island Sunset (2022). If you would like to watch t. Janie Melsek, 54, was attacked Wednesday by the. The. So let's set the record straight about these prehistoric looking creatures. see crocodiles in an area called Flamingo in the Everglades that's located pretty far out of the way.. I dont know if I agree with the brunt of the people blaming the alligator, Myerson said. Its the orange cord wrapped around his arm. Florida Fish and Wildlife and a Florida State trapper arrived on the scene to capture the alligator, according to the City of Sanibel. Alligators on Sanibel are very interesting creatures that have been roaming the earth since prehistoric times. Dog gets away safe after alligator lunges for it off Sanibel Causeway, Winds stoke brush fires and prompt evacuations across Southwest Florida, Fort Myers High School hosts annual unified basketball game, Public adjuster answers your hurricane-related property insurance questions, Long-term repairs to the Sanibel Causeway after Hurricane Ian, Alligator captured after seriously injuring man near pond in Sanibel, Working to get Sanibel beaches and businesses open after Ian, Dog found in Orlando reunited with Texas family 7 years after it ran away, What the number of winter shorebirds means for Florida, How bloodless open heart surgeries are performed, North Naples woman arrested after dog dies trapped in vehicle, After Hurricane Ian, Lee County reopening beach parks with free parking. Fatality Rate: Alligator Attacks = 4.3% Shark Attacks = 1.5%. Five years ago last week Sanibel Island landscaper Janie Melsek lost her life to complications from an alligator attack. 2023 Sanibel Holiday All rights reserved. Golf Courses The 2 best golf courses to Gator spot are The Dunes and Sanibel Island Golf Club. Fifth, alligators can be lighting fast when they see you are in striking distance, 15 feet or less from them and the water. Alligator on Sanibel Island - YouTube View from the wooden bridge that leads to Bowman's beach on Sanibel island View from the wooden bridge that leads to Bowman's beach on Sanibel. But what is the Florida Department of Transportation actually doing on the Sanibel Causeway? Laitham Haddad shared the video with Fort Myers NBC affiliate WBBH. Florida is one of their favorite habitats, of course! I am linking . There are numerous nature trails to explore and a huge wildlife refuge. Pitts grabbed her smaller dog, and Honey was able to run away from the gator unscathed. SANIBEL, Fla. (WSVN) Rescue teams saved a man's life after a harrowing alligator attack in Sanibel. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. The alligator dragged her into a pond, tearing at her right arm so severely that part of it was later amputated, and rescuers saved her from the reptile's jaws in what was described as a fierce "tug-of-war.". They are a protected species and given the percentage of conservation land on the island are a common sight that is to be celebrated. Police shot the reptile to death before rushing Melsek to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers. The 92 alligator was removed from the property, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Utilities Department 24hr Emergency Hotline: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. Stay 50 feet away from an Alligator, though they may seem lethargic, they can move fast and run up to 35 mph especially during the warmer summer months. First, alligators are opportunistic eaters. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, where alligators are often sighted, according to the Sanibel Captiva Guide. The singular exception may be the presence of alligators, and you will see signs warning about them posted throughout the Island. A Sanibel landscaper was attacked by a 6-foot alligator Wednesday and escaped with stitches to her hand. We quickly became acquainted with everything Sanibel & Captiva have to offer. She later died in surgery from an infection acquired from being in the water . 239-267-1317 Dogs are more susceptible to being attacked than humans because dogs resemble the natural prey of alligators. Chief Barrett explained that the worker is from Arkansas and was washing his hands in the pond when he was attacked. A trapper later killed the alligator. 2000s. Contrary to popular belief, they have good eyesight and, their blind spot is in front of their nose. What went wrong: A look at the detainment and release of NFL player Nate Allen by Fort Myers police. A woman's service dog had a near death experience when an alligator lunged for it off the Sanibel Causeway recently. The alligator believed to be responsible was killed. Around 2:00 in the afternoon first responders were able to get the alligator out of the pond. Tribal police divers found the body of Justo Antonio Padron, 36, the next afternoon, with alligator teeth marks on the upper torso. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel). If you see an alligator, the best thing to do is leave it alone. The man was washing his hands in a pond in Sanibel, Florida, at around 11 a.m. on Thursday when the alligator bit him, the city said in a statement. "But the gators are out here. Also, understand that if youre near a nest, theyre going to be protective.. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp Alligators, if they have been left alone, will generally not attack you. When fed, alligators lose their natural fear and learn to associate people with food. Expect sustained winds between ten to twenty miles per hour, with wind gusts as strong as thirty []. No Collier County attacks are included on FWC's list of fatal alligator attacks. Were invading their territory. Its the sunshine state! To have it end this way is just so sad.. The gator weighed 100 pounds, but its sex was not immediately determined. Never feed Alligators, this will cause them to lose their natural fear of humans and associate humans with food. Observe and photograph alligators only from 30 feet or more away. SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. A monster alligator was spotted walking around a parking lot on Sanibel Island, Florida. A chamber employee told a reporter the meeting was about alligators. A pretty good size gatorabout 8 to 10 feet gator came up and grabbed him by the arm. ", Contact Valli Finney at vallimfinney@yahoo.com, PHOTOS: County Commissioners square off at forum, Collier commission candidates clash over fracking. Alligators can climb and quite well, just something to be aware of. Chamber Executive Director Steve Greenstein insisted that wasnt true. The cause of death was listed as systemic inflammatory response syndrome.. It is also illegal. The gator reached up and grabbed his arm, Abo said. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge when the gator dragged him into the water. They are native to Mexico, China, and the United States. Students, staff, family, and friends came together on Friday for the annual unified basketball game at Fort Myers High School. These feared but fascinating creatures are common on the island. Sanibel Fire said people at the scene were able to make a tourniquet for the man before medics arrived. Never allow small children to play by themselves near water. Chief Barrett explained that capturing the gator was like fishing. Trappers later killed 10 alligators in the Dead River, including one they decided was responsible. Do not harass Alligators in any manner. But its now something Pitts says she is wary of and wants others to be aware of too. Lee County announced that several beach parksLynn Hall Memorial Park, San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve, Bonita Beach Park and Bonita Beach Accesses 1 to 10would reopen on Saturday. July 15, 2005: An alligator more than 12 feet long grabbed 41-year-old Kevin Murray by the arm as he swam in Apollo Waterway and pulled him underwater as neighbors watched. She fought back and survived after being treated at a hospital. Animals in the region were disrupted by Hurricane Ian in September, and may have found new homes in unexpected places. Allison Christian faces a charge of aggravated animal cruelty, according to an arrest report. You have to have your head on a swivel and be smart, especially with regard to small animals and small children; if youre down near the waters edge, theres a potential gator there. Small, tropical, inviting, it is easy to feel that there is not a worry in the world while vacationing on Sanibel. They attack somebody and they take them out and kill them. It will be euthanized. She died at 9:15 a.m. Friday during surgery at Lee Memorial Hospital as doctors tried to combat the infection that spread through her body. Administrative Services/ Human Resources/ Benefits/ Pensions, Business Tax Receipts (formerly Occupational Licenses), Police including Emergency Management Forms, Register with AlertLee for Emergency Announcements, Register for Recreation Center Activities, City of Sanibel Demographics - April 27, 2021, Commercial Hurricane Re-Entry Application. She survived the attack but died later of an infection caused by the bite. 1 Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources 2 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 3 Georgia Department of Natural Resources 4 South Carolina Department of Natural Resources 5 University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Wildlife Damage Management 6 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Officials were about ready to give up nearly two hours into the hunt for the gator. A fish kill is filling up the water in Southwest Florida. What do we expect?. The victim fell into a pond in a gated community in Hilton Head Island, . Enter your message or notes here to be included in the email. A nearby alligator behaved aggressively toward the divers, and was trapped and euthanized. But neither you nor your dog should approach the edges of fresh or brackish bodies of water as the enticement is great, but the risk is even greater. U.S. news An 88-year-old woman was killed in a suspected alligator attack at a gated community near Hilton Head, S.C. "It was guarding her and did not want people close by," a law enforcement. It is a celebration of nature at its finest. This was the first recorded fatal alligator attack in Texas since 1836. Observe and photograph alligators only from 30 feet or more away. There are many misconceptions about Alligators but they are still dangerous and as humans, we have to behave respectfully and sensibly towards them. Pond Apple Trail 1159 Causeway Road. There have been 22 fatalities attributed to alligator bites and attacks since 1973, records show. Janie Melsek Photo: The News-Press. Crews are starting the long-term repairs after Hurricane Ian, causing traffic jams in Southwest Florida. An alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. An 11-foot-4-inch, 407-pound alligator that was confirmed to have killed her was euthanized. 239-395-7671, Copyright 2020 - 2021|Avada Theme by. Please do your part in protecting the Islands wildlife by not feeding alligators. He wouldnt speculate on what, if anything, the council may do. An alligator is seen during a kayak tour near Everglades City on Dec. 2. Learn More A woman who had worked on Sanibel for many years was attacked by an alligator while working. Re: Snakes or alligators on Captiva? The animal will be euthanized. Why were all of a sudden having a problem if what weve had is a problem I dont know., Before returning to his chores in a thicket next to his house, Yetsko said he hopes Sanibel residents can continue to live in harmony with nature., I guess you can do it, he said. So he wants everyone to remember to be cautious. She later died of the wounds. But some may take the signs to heart in such a way that inhibits their enjoyment of the island. "Actually the trappers were in there for a long time with hooks and we (law enforcement officials) were all standing there looking for the alligator," Adams said. nature trails to explore and a huge wildlife refuge. Guide to Captiva Restaurants People can expect to [], A family in Texas has finally been reunited with their dog that ran away seven years ago. FULL STORY:https://t.co/s8YiqlIH9V pic.twitter.com/HIf2fsEoQj. Swim in the daytime, Alligators are most active at night. WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale, Coral Gables resident still refuses to sell decades-old home surrounded by massive development, Broward County pastor faces several fraud, grand theft charges after defrauding church, Gunman dead after hours-long SWAT standoff at SW Miami-Dade apartment complex, Police: Man fatally shot 3-year-old son, himself inside Coconut Grove condo, Police arrest student who made false bomb threat at Dillard High School; classes resume. Robert Steele, 82, was killed by a 10 foot, 9 inch-long gator Sept. 11, 2001, near his house on Rabbit Road in Sanibel on Sept. 11, 2001. It was a bit of a struggle, Chief Barett said. Sanibel Island is currently closed to non-residents, with the exception of first responders and recovery workers, as local authorities continue storm cleanup. Get updates on developing stories as they happen with our free breaking news email alerts. The decorative pond is about the size of a swimming pool, said Sanibel Police Maj. Michael Murray. SANIBEL, Fla. A man is in the hospital after an alligator bit him Thursday morning on Sanibel Island, and according to Florida's Fish and Wildlife, the gator will be put to sleep. Murray and Adams say that people need to be aware of their surroundings, but as Adams said, even the trappers had a difficult time finding the gator in the pond where Olin was working. As the gator tried to drag Melsek into the same small pond it came out of, she told rescuers to cut her arm off to help her get free.