alligator attacks on sanibel island

Melsek was just two years younger than Olin when a gator attacked her while she was doing landscaping on July 21, 2004, on Poinciana Circle near a pond. Dogs are more susceptible to being attacked than humans because dogs resemble the natural prey of alligators. A nearby alligator behaved aggressively toward the divers, and was trapped and euthanized. If you want to go there, you will want to go there before you really start driving to Sanibel Island. High temperatures will climb into the 80s and low 90s under mostly sunny skies. 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. If you encounter a nuisance alligator or see someone feeding an alligator, IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE SANIBEL POLICE DEPARTMENT AT (239) 472-3111. If you encounter a nuisance alligator or see someone feeding an alligator, IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE SANIBEL POLICE DEPARTMENT AT (239) 472-3111. 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. At the last check, the victim is in the hospital but is expected to be okay. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp The myth that they cant catch you if you run in a zig zag is not true. The only Gator bite you want is just over the causeway offering great food, excellent service, live entertainment, and a large outdoor patio. Mayor Marty Harrity met Friday with directors of the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. Since alligators are cold-blooded reptiles, their metabolic rate increases and decreases as water and air temperatures fluctuate. The 2-year-old Nebraska boy snatched by an alligator at a lake in Walt Disney World and whose body was found Wednesday was one of 16 people killed in alligator attacks in Florida since 1997. It seems to have worked for years. 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 canal on Sanibel Island. "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. How much should your insurance company pay, and can an adjuster stack on costs? In April 2004, a 74-year-old woman was grabbed by the leg and pulled underwater by a 9-foot, 7-inch gator. But its now something Pitts says she is wary of and wants others to be aware of too. Greenstein said hes not worried Sanibel which depends heavily on tourism could become known as a dangerous place because of gators. 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. Weve had too many attacks recently, I think, said Smith, 62. The animal will be euthanized. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. nature trails to explore and a huge wildlife refuge. Smith had known Melsek, who was a bank customer, for 23 years. The attack happened on the 2400 block of Periwinkle Way around 11:00 am. 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 May 14, 2006: Near Lake George in the Ocala National Forest, the body of 23-year-old Annemarie Campbell was found sticking out of an alligator's mouth by her friends, who beat the reptile until it released her. There are numerous nature trails to explore and a huge wildlife refuge. Despite a pretty gnarly bite, hes going to be OK, and his arm is going to be saved, Abdo told WSVN. The man was able to free himself from the. Alligators, if they have been left alone, will generally not attack you. They are native to Mexico, China, and the United States. Experts trapped the cold blooded animal with meat and lassoed it. I thought about whether to post this news or. An alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. Remember they are an important part of Sanibel's natural history as well as an integral component of our freshwater ecosystem. The skin was very torn up on his arm. Rubio hopes to rebound four months after loss, Guest commentary: Support solar in Florida? Chief Barrett explained that the worker is from Arkansas and was washing his hands in the pond when he was attacked. What's happening to turtle nests along Naples' beaches? 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. 8:49 PM EST, Mon December 19, 2022 A A SANIBEL, Fla. A man was hospitalized after an alligator bit him on the arm. Please do your part in protecting the Islands wildlife by not feeding alligators. This was the first recorded fatal alligator attack in Texas since 1836. 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. "She kicked it and it let her go.". Since 1948, 491 people have been bitten. It will be euthanized. When fed, alligators lose their natural fear and learn to associate people with food. We quickly became acquainted with everything Sanibel & Captiva have to offer. There have been 22 fatalities attributed to alligator bites and attacks since 1973, records show. Trappers later caught and killed an 8-1/2-foot alligator that had some of her body parts in its belly. It was a bit of a struggle, Chief Barett said. As more people start to pile into the area, and beaches reopen, the fish kill will become a bigger problem. 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. Students, staff, family, and friends came together on Friday for the annual unified basketball game at Fort Myers High School. There are. The man was able to free himself and call . All rights reserved, BSO Searching forMissing 11-Year-Old Girl From Pompano Beach, Miami-Dade Animal Services Temporarily Suspends Some Services Due to Bacterial Outbreak, Miami-Dade Mayor, State Attorney Announce New Measures to Protect HOA Residents, Check Your Change! Its the sunshine state! According to the press release, the man suffered a serious injury to his right forearm. I think its up to the city of Sanibel to decide if their policy is appropriate and theyll take whatever action is necessary to protect the public.. 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. At least four people have been killed in alligator incidents this year in the U.S., two in Florida. 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. Campbell was a Tennessee visitor who was snorkeling in a secluded recreation area. 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. Theyre just being alligators. Leave alligators alone. 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. The gator, a 12-foot, 3-inch male was removed and destroyed. Never let small children play by themselves near freshwater. Guide to Sanibel Restaurants Five years ago last week Sanibel Island landscaper Janie Melsek lost her life to complications from an alligator attack. His mother told authorities he had been standing in knee-deep water picking water lilies for her. The gator reached up and grabbed his arm, Abo said. Abo has treated several alligator bites over the years, and commented on dangers of human-alligator run-ins. May 4, 2001: The chewed body of 70-year-old Samuel Wetmore was found floating in a south Sarasota County retention pond with an 8-foot alligator circling nearby. Murray said it was skinny for an alligator. FULL STORY:https://t.co/s8YiqlIH9V pic.twitter.com/HIf2fsEoQj. John C. Goede: Can changes be made to common areas without members' approval? Fifth, alligators can be lighting fast when they see you are in striking distance, 15 feet or less from them and the water. . Sanibel has a special permit from the state allowing it to move gators under 8 feet long that get in the way of humans as long as theyre not acting aggressively. Wetmore suffered from dementia and was believed to have wandered away from his home. The primary factor in the evaluation is determining the potential danger posed by an alligator or crocodile. Second, a full grown alligator can exist on one raccoon for months. They were able to lure the animal in to range with meat, and eventually subdued it. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. 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. It is also illegal. During cooler months, alligators are generally lethargic and do not move around much. Medical professionals applied a commercial-grade tourniquet and took the man to a hospital. 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. I am linking the report. Firefighters are battling several brush fires in Charlotte County; the one off McCall Road threatens several buildings, including a church. The body of Alexandria Murphy was found near the shoreline of Lake Cannon in Winter Haven an hour after her family reported her missing. Be aware of the possibility of alligator attacks when in or near fresh or brackish bodies of water. The man is taking antibiotics and needs to clean his wounds thoroughly and often. Denial is not just a river in Egypt this can happen and does happen. I dont know if I agree with the brunt of the people blaming the alligator, Myerson said. Robert Steele, 81 . Obviously, theres more people moving onto the island, he said. Once endangered, alligators now number more than 1 million, state officials believe. If fishing, throw fish scraps away into trash cans, not the water. That gator was killed and another 6-foot gator was removed. About three hours after the attack, first responders were able to get the gator out of the pond. . She later died of the wounds. Lost a lot of blood, but hes fine.. 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. 20351 Summerlin Rd, Fort Myers, FL 33908 Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, where alligators are often sighted, according to the Sanibel Captiva Guide. The latest bite brings to eight the number of people bitten by gators this year in Florida. 239-267-1317 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. 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. Janie Melsek, 54, was attacked Wednesday by the. Sanibel officials plan to meet Tuesday, Aug. 3, to discuss city policies on gators, which Councilman Steve Brown says may be too liberal. 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. 239-395-7671, Copyright 2020 - 2021|Avada Theme by. Police shot the reptile to death before rushing Melsek to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers. Florida is one of their favorite habitats, of course! Latest News Updates for Sanibel Island & SWFL. The cause of death was listed as "systemic inflammatory response syndrome." Sanibel Island, Florida 33957 A word to the wise should be sufficient. She heard a loud splash and when she turned around her son was gone. Expect sustained winds between ten to twenty miles per hour, with wind gusts as strong as thirty []. 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. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. "Thankfully Lauri's OK," Murray said. Feeding alligators is a criminal act, punishable with up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail. To have it end this way is just so sad.. According to the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Melsek was the 14th person to be killed by a gator in Florida since 1973. 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. Kati Sherrard, who was hired to be the [], An alligator was captured in a Sanibel pond Thursday afternoon after the reptile seriously injured a man working on the island. State law prohibits killing, feeding, harassing or possession of alligators. Alligators on Sanibel are very interesting creatures that have been roaming the earth since prehistoric times. Sanibel Fire said people at the scene were able to make a tourniquet for the man before medics arrived. The alligator, found with the missing leg in his mouth, was destroyed. Officials were about ready to give up nearly two hours into the hunt for the gator. 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. An alligator was trapped and removed from the area. 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. 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. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge when the gator dragged him into the water. Allison Christian faces a charge of aggravated animal cruelty, according to an arrest report. Many attacks occur when people do not pay close enough attention to their surroundings when working or recreating near water. Around 2:00 in the afternoon first responders were able to get the alligator out of the pond. Contrary to popular belief, they have good eyesight and, their blind spot is in front of their nose. Nevertheless, the mayor believes the island will be open on January 2. Its sad to see people cant go out in the yard and garden, said Cardenas, 34. After the gator was captured FWC's gator trappers gave Fox 4 a closer look at the gator that bit a man's arm. The J.N Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge is 6,400 Acres of preserved and undeveloped mangrove ecosystem land. The Truth About Alligators on Sanibel Island, The Best Sanibel Stories Come from Guests. Twenty-five of those attacks were fatal, including two in Lee County both on Sanibel Island in 2001 and 2004. Now we've decided to share a little sunshine with those all over the world! Recently, an alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. Please do your part in protecting the Island's wildlife by not feeding alligators. Utilities Department 24hr Emergency Hotline: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records.