Observe and photograph alligators only from 30 feet or more away. We quickly became acquainted with everything Sanibel & Captiva have to offer. Hes my service dog, so he saves my life a lot, Pitts said. If you see an alligator, the best thing to do is leave it alone. Obviously, theres more people moving onto the island, he said. 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. 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. Never allow small children to play by themselves near water. I think they shouldnt let them get that big. He was taken to an area hospital; his current condition is unknown at this time. 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. Rubio hopes to rebound four months after loss, Guest commentary: Support solar in Florida? 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. Animals in the region were disrupted by Hurricane Ian in September, and may have found new homes in unexpected places. Just as we love all wild life on Sanibel, we love our gators. FWC. Also, understand that if youre near a nest, theyre going to be protective.. Trappers later caught and killed an 8-1/2-foot alligator that had some of her body parts in its belly. A photo of the aftermath of the attack is so graphic we had to blur it, but with a closer . The tourniquet was lifesaving. During the emergency Thursday, bystanders and the victim fashioned a makeshift tourniquet out of an orange power chord, wrapping it around his upper arm before paramedics arrived. Sheriff's divers recovered his body with injuries consistent with an alligator attack nine days after he was reported missing by his girlfriend, who said he told her he was going to commit burglaries. What went wrong: A look at the detainment and release of NFL player Nate Allen by Fort Myers police. Then vote no on solar amendment, Ray McNulty: Jim Kaat tells different side to Greg Norman's battle with Medalist Golf Club. That will require a bit (a lot) of a detour from going directly to Sanibel Island, as the spot to (maybe!) He did a decent job because he made it very tight but also very wide.. Name, age, sex Date . Please keep the following tips in mind to ensure the time you spend on Sanibel does not result in a conflict with an alligator: Feeding alligators is a criminal act, punishable with up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail. So he wants everyone to remember to be cautious. Tribal police divers found the body of Justo Antonio Padron, 36, the next afternoon, with alligator teeth marks on the upper torso. The alligator believed to be responsible was killed. There is no way she (Olin) could have seen it.". Chief Barrett explained that capturing the gator was like fishing. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn. Five years ago last week Sanibel Island landscaper Janie Melsek lost her life to complications from an alligator attack. The City of Sanibel has established procedures for receiving alligator and crocodile complainants and handling nuisance alligators or crocodiles. Friends said he swam in the park every day. 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. Early reports that the gator was about 4-feet-long proved wrong once trappers captured the critter. She later died of the wounds. They say theres 300 of them on this island.. She suffered a broken thumb and gashes on a leg. 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. Florida Fish and Wildlife and a Florida State trapper arrived on the scene to capture the alligator, according to the City of Sanibel. 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. How much should your insurance company pay, and can an adjuster stack on costs? Sept. 11, 2001, 82-year-old Robert Steele had his leg severed and bled to death when he was attacked by a 10-foot alligator while walking his dog by a Sanibel Island canal. The man was able to free himself and call 911, but sustained serious injury to his right forearm, according to a release by the city of Sanibel. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers, along with a Florida State trapper, searched the area in an attempt to capture the alligator. Remember they are an important part of Sanibels natural history as well as an integral component of our freshwater ecosystem. The alligator, found with the missing leg in his mouth, was destroyed. - A professional landscaper died Friday after being mauled by a 12-foot alligator that dragged her into a pond and nearly tore off one of her arms. Students, staff, family, and friends came together on Friday for the annual unified basketball game at Fort Myers High School. The skin was very torn up on his arm. ***Christmas Light Footage was recorded in January 2021 from Tween Waters Resort. 239-395-7671, Copyright 2020 - 2021|Avada Theme by. Recently, an alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. A monster alligator was spotted walking around a parking lot on Sanibel Island, Florida. 2023 Sanibel Holiday All rights reserved. Donna Yetsko recalled seeing the gator that attacked Melsek at least twice a week. Fifth, alligators can be lighting fast when they see you are in striking distance, 15 feet or less from them and the water. Dogs are more susceptible to being attacked than humans because dogs resemble the natural prey of alligators. Alligators on Sanibel are very interesting creatures that have been roaming the earth since prehistoric times. Since 1948, 491 people have been bitten. The man was able to free himself from the. FWCs gator trappers gave us a close up of the gator after it was captured. If you see an alligator, the best thing to do is leave it alone. People can expect to [], A family in Texas has finally been reunited with their dog that ran away seven years ago. 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. Lauri Olin, 56, of Rabbit Road on Sanibel, was working for Wilson Landscape and Pond when a 6-foot, 7-inch gator grabbed her hand while she worked at 5206 Punta Caloosa Court, said Officer Joanne Adams, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman. Contrary to popular belief, they have good eyesight and, their blind spot is in front of their nose. 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. They are often spotted on Sanibel (though rarely on Captiva) which is a wonderful habitat for them as much as it is a great vacation spot for us, They are a protected species and given the percentage of conservation land on the island are a common sight that is to. (3.7 m) alligator while working on landscaping along Poinciana Circle Sanibel, Florida. 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. 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 . Denial is not just a river in Egypt this can happen and does happen. A fish kill is filling up the water in Southwest Florida. According to the City of Sanibel, the Sanibel Police Department received a 911 call just after 11 a.m. about an adult man who an alligator had bitten in a pond adjacent to Baileys General [], Sanibel took a beating during Ian, and many people think it will be years before the island will ever be close to what it once was. A 54-year-old landscaper, Melsek was attacked Wednesday by an alligator that was 11 feet, 9 inches long and weighed 457 pounds. Gators are common in Florida and Chief Barrett said they respond to these types of calls more often than you will think. She fought back and survived after being treated at a hospital. 2000s. Guide to Captiva Restaurants 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. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. She later died in surgery from an infection acquired from being in the water . Olin was taken to HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers for appropriate treatment, to include antibiotics to ward off any infection. GatorBites Tail & Ale Switchboard: (305) 751-6692 The attack on Melsek made headlines internationally because of a heroic effort to save her by several men who heard her screams and Sanibel Police officers who rushed to her aid. Authorities confirmed that the victim was from Arkansas and was a construction worker focused on recovery from Hurricane Ian, which decimated the area in September. There are many misconceptions about Alligators but they are still dangerous and as humans, we have to behave, Forgotten Sanibel Recipe Lemon Pecten Cakes, Local Sanibel Artist Rachel Pierce Hurricane Ian & Pop Up Shops, Sanibel Bailey Tract Trails & Meditation Hike! "Pretty much every body of water has an alligator in it, including some swimming pools," Chief Barrett said. At least four people have been killed in alligator incidents this year in the U.S., two in Florida. Never feed or entice alligators it is dangerous and illegal. It will be euthanized. One of the best places to see crocodiles in Florida is also Everglades National Park!. Greenstein said hes not worried Sanibel which depends heavily on tourism could become known as a dangerous place because of gators. "Thankfully Lauri's OK," Murray said. March 22, 1997: An 11-foot alligator was discovered swimming protectively near the body of 3-year-old Adam Binford in a lake in Volusia County, a mile from where he had disappeared the day before. Sanibel Fires Division Chief Tim Barrett told Fox 4 that the alligator was between 8 and 10 feet long. The dog, Jazzy, was found abandoned in a hotel room in Orlando earlier this month, Orange County Animal Services said on Facebook. If fishing, throw fish scraps away into trash cans, not the water. Do not allow pets to swim, exercise, or drink in waters that may contain alligators or in designated swimming areas with humans. , there was a time they almost became extinct. Despite a pretty gnarly bite, hes going to be OK, and his arm is going to be saved, Abdo told WSVN. 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. They should move the big ones to where theyre not around people.. There were three in the truck, but the one from the attack is the biggest one. High humidity will make our afternoon feels like temperatures reach the 90s in many spots. 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 is seen during a kayak tour near Everglades City on Dec. 2. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says you can call its nuisance alligator hotline at 866-392-4286 if you are concerned about a gator. Visit Gatorbites Website. The construction can be seen all around, along with cranes, tools, and the crews doing all the work. There are numerous nature trails to explore and a huge wildlife refuge. The only Gator bite you want is just over the causeway offering great food, excellent service, live entertainment, and a large outdoor patio. A Sanibel landscaper was attacked by a 6-foot alligator Wednesday and escaped with stitches to her hand. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, where alligators are often sighted, according to the Sanibel Captiva Guide. June 18, 2003: A 12-year-old boy was fatally mauled by an alligator while swimming with friends at Palm Gardens Marina, about 35 miles northwest of Orlando. Murray said it was skinny for an alligator. These feared but fascinating creatures are common on the island. 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.". The victim fell into a pond in a gated community in Hilton Head Island, . The attack occurred at a pond near 2477 Periwinkle Way, which abuts Frannies Preserve, a forested area with hiking trails, and a few blocks south of J.N. Chief Barrett explained that the worker is from Arkansas and was washing his hands in the pond when he was attacked. Pitts says you never know whats lurking below the waters surface. I dont know that were getting a reputation for it, Greenstein said. They find their way back is what they do.. The alligator,. Re: Snakes or alligators on Captiva? Sept. 11, 2001, 82-year-old Robert Steele had his leg severed and bled to death when he was attacked by a 10-foot alligator while walking his dog by a Sanibel Island canal. That gator was killed and another 6-foot gator was removed. An 11-foot-4-inch, 407-pound alligator that was confirmed to have killed her was euthanized. Golf Courses The 2 best golf courses to Gator spot are The Dunes and Sanibel Island Golf Club. 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. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. The animal will be euthanized. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge when the gator dragged him into the water. If you want to go there, you will want to go there before you really start driving to Sanibel Island. 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. The cause of death was listed as "systemic inflammatory response syndrome." It is during these times that alligator sightings are most prevalent. Janie Melsek Photo: The News-Press. Crews said the victim was washing is hands in a pond. Laitham Haddad shared the video with Fort Myers NBC affiliate WBBH. But some may take the signs to heart in such a way that inhibits their enjoyment of the island. A 12-foot alligator had been spotted in the lake twice the day before his body was found, forcing the park to close temporarily each time. Medical professionals applied a commercial-grade tourniquet and took the man to a hospital. It is a celebration of nature at its finest. I thought about whether to post this news or. 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. Their metabolism is very slow and they are not the ravenous monsters some think they are.