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. 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 - 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. 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. Never feed or entice alligators it is dangerous and illegal. Never feed Alligators, this will cause them to lose their natural fear of humans and associate humans with food. 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.. There are several places to spot Alligators on Sanibel and, they are most active in the warmer months. Sometimes they will use a big hook, and a large piece of meat and throw it out there and catch him, Chief Barrett said. 2000s. The 9-foot-8-inch male alligator responsible for the attack was caught and destroyed. is 6,400 Acres of preserved and undeveloped mangrove ecosystem land. This was the first recorded fatal alligator attack in Texas since 1836. If you want to go there, you will want to go there before you really start driving to Sanibel Island. Rubio hopes to rebound four months after loss, Guest commentary: Support solar in Florida? Recently, an alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. Alligators can climb and quite well, just something to be aware of. March 11, 2005: Donald Ray Owen, 56, was found dead in Six Pound Pond near Lakeland in Polk County with multiple alligator bites and the left arm amputated below the elbow. Lost a lot of blood, but hes fine.. Sanibel contains over 2,200 acres of freshwater wetlands that provide habitat for a sizable population of alligators. An alligator attacked and dragged 2-year-old Lane Graves from the water's edge at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. They were able to lure the animal in to range with meat, and eventually subdued it. . He wouldnt speculate on what, if anything, the council may do. To have it end this way is just so sad.. Its sad to see people cant go out in the yard and garden, said Cardenas, 34. Feeding alligators is a criminal act, punishable with up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail. Observe and photograph alligators only from a distance. Police Chief Bill Tomlinson said hes been asked to make a presentation on city policies and the alligator complaints the city has recorded. At the last check, the victim is in the hospital but is expected to be okay. Also, understand that if youre near a nest, theyre going to be protective.. He did a decent job because he made it very tight but also very wide.. Around 2:00 in the afternoon first responders were able to get the alligator out of the pond. Therefore, swim only during daylight hours. First, alligators are opportunistic eaters. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Animals in the region were disrupted by Hurricane Ian in September, and may have found new homes in unexpected places. May 10, 2006: The dismembered body of Yovy Suarez-Jimenez, 28, was found by construction workers in a canal in Broward County. By the beginning of April, when the weather starts to warm, alligators become active, feeding more, looking for new territories and mating. Never allow small children to play by themselves near water. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WSVN-TV. According to Sanibel Fire the man was severely bitten but is expected to be okay. An alligator is seen during a kayak tour near Everglades City on Dec. 2. We quickly became acquainted with everything Sanibel & Captiva have to offer. He was walking a dog on a narrow path between two wetland areas near J.N. Smith had known Melsek, who was a bank customer, for 23 years. Janie Melsek Photo: The News-Press. 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. Man seriously injured after alligator attack on Sanibel, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' star dies at 61. People can expect to [], A family in Texas has finally been reunited with their dog that ran away seven years ago. She survived the attack but died later of an infection caused by the bite. Sanibel Island is an incredible place to experience nature. What went wrong: A look at the detainment and release of NFL player Nate Allen by Fort Myers police. "She got stitches in her right hand and was given appropriate medication and medical care," Adams said. Besides that, doctors said, hes going to be just fine. During cooler months, alligators are generally lethargic and do not move around much. Pitts grabbed her smaller dog, and Honey was able to run away from the gator unscathed. The latest bite brings to eight the number of people bitten by gators this year in Florida. Once endangered, alligators now number more than 1 million, state officials believe. Their metabolism is very slow and they are not the ravenous monsters some think they are. "Thankfully Lauri's OK," Murray said. Fifth, alligators can be lighting fast when they see you are in striking distance, 15 feet or less from them and the water. 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. At least four people have been killed in alligator incidents this year in the U.S., two in Florida. Denial is not just a river in Egypt this can happen and does happen. (2022), The Sanibel and Captiva Farmers Markets (2022), 11 Local Favorites For A Sanibel Island Sunset (2022). SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. A monster alligator was spotted walking around a parking lot on Sanibel Island, Florida. John C. Goede: Can changes be made to common areas without members' approval? 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. 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. Re: Snakes or alligators on Captiva? The first 911 call, from Olin's co-worker, came at 11:18 a.m. "It wasn't really that big and it wasn't that deep," Murray said of the pond. Early reports that the gator was about 4-feet-long proved wrong once trappers captured the critter. But some may take the signs to heart in such a way that inhibits their enjoyment of the island. Many attacks occur when people do not pay close enough attention to their surroundings when working or recreating near water. The 12th was Robert Steele, 81, who died on Sept. 11, 2001, after being bitten near his home off Rabbit Road, not far from where Melsek was attacked. Police shot the reptile to death before rushing Melsek to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers. 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. The Truth About Alligators on Sanibel Island, The Best Sanibel Stories Come from Guests. Among the fascinating animals and birds to observe is the mighty Alligator. Alligators On Sanibel Island - The SanCap Guide It's the sunshine state! They are a protected species and given the percentage of conservation land on the island are a common sight that is to be celebrated. 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. "Pretty much every body of water has an alligator in it, including some swimming pools," Chief Barrett said. Weve had too many attacks recently, I think, said Smith, 62. A pretty good size gatorabout 8 to 10 feet gator came up and grabbed him by the arm. At Baileys General Store, employees Anastasia Cardenas, John Howsmon and Travis Rudder talked about gators as they took a break from work. Please do your part in protecting the Island's wildlife by not feeding alligators. The alligator, found with the missing leg in his mouth, was destroyed. GatorBites Tail & Ale 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. The gator, a 12-foot, 3-inch male was removed and destroyed. The animal rescue said that she had arthritis and could barely walk when she was found. Five years ago last week Sanibel Island landscaper Janie Melsek lost her life to complications from an alligator attack. 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. Harrity couldnt be reached for comment. Murray said it was skinny for an alligator. The victim fell into a pond in a gated community in Hilton Head Island, . One of the biggest issues people are dealing with when it comes to insurance after Hurricane Ian is property damage. The body of Alexandria Murphy was found near the shoreline of Lake Cannon in Winter Haven an hour after her family reported her missing. If you would like to watch t. Chamber Executive Director Steve Greenstein insisted that wasnt true. I am linking the report. 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.. 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 + Read More Here The Truth About Alligators on Sanibel Island A fish kill is filling up the water in Southwest Florida. Remember they are an important part of Sanibel's natural history as well as an integral component of our freshwater ecosystem. According to the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Melsek was the 14th person to be killed by a gator in Florida since 1973. Guide to Captiva Restaurants Please do your part in protecting the Islands wildlife by not feeding alligators. The cause of death was listed as "systemic inflammatory response syndrome." I dont know if I agree with the brunt of the people blaming the alligator, Myerson said. The 92 alligator was removed from the property, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). FWC. An alligator is seen during a kayak tour near Everglades City on Dec. 2. Sanibel Island is an incredible place to experience nature. The City of Sanibel has established procedures for receiving alligator and crocodile complainants and handling nuisance alligators or crocodiles. If you see anything and the gators appear to be nuisance, call the Sanibel police. 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 . Fatality Rate: Alligator Attacks = 4.3% Shark Attacks = 1.5%. It is a celebration of nature at its finest. 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. When fed, alligators lose their natural fear and learn to associate people with food. Jeannie Pitts was throwing the frisbee with her dog, Honey, when a gator splashed out of the water. They are native to Mexico, China, and the United States. The. 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. Name, age, sex Date . The construction can be seen all around, along with cranes, tools, and the crews doing all the work. Wind gusts will not become as strong as yesterday. 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. 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. An alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. Recently, an alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . The only Gator bite you want is just over the causeway offering great food, excellent service, live entertainment, and a large outdoor patio. As I pulled up, the man was sitting on the side, with blood coming out, with an extension chord that that he used as a makeshift tourniquet, said Sanibel Fire & Rescue District medical director Dr. Benjamin Abo, who specializes in wilderness medicine and who treated the man on-site. Florida Fish and Wildlife and a Florida State trapper arrived on the scene to capture the alligator, according to the City of Sanibel. Crews are starting the long-term repairs after Hurricane Ian, causing traffic jams in Southwest Florida. She later died of the wounds. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge when the gator dragged him into the water. Attached to the Shipley Trail and close to the Bailey Homestead. Since 1948, 491 people have been bitten. "She kicked it and it let her go.". see crocodiles in an area called Flamingo in the Everglades that's located pretty far out of the way.. His mother told authorities he had been standing in knee-deep water picking water lilies for her. SANIBEL, Fla. (WSVN) Rescue teams saved a mans life after a harrowing alligator attack in Sanibel. The singular exception may be the presence of alligators, and you will see signs warning about them posted throughout the Island. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. The J.N Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge is 6,400 Acres of preserved and undeveloped mangrove ecosystem land. Although you are not intentionally feeding alligators when you do this, the end result can be the same. I thought about whether to post this news or. 239-267-1317 Donna Yetsko recalled seeing the gator that attacked Melsek at least twice a week. 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. Do not swim in water inhabited by Alligators. "But hes a pretty tough old boy. According to Sanibel Fire Department, a 25-year-old man was attacked. J.N Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge There are often Alligator spottings on the Indigo trail/Wildlife drive, keep your eyes open for groups of people huddled around staring, this is usually a sign of a Gator spotting! The 450-pound alligator was killed. The man was able to free himself and call . The alligator,. 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. There are numerous nature trails to explore and a huge wildlife refuge. Campbell was a Tennessee visitor who was snorkeling in a secluded recreation area. 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.". Do not let your small pets, such as dogs drink from or swim in, freshwater. 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. Enter one or more recipient email addresses separated by commas or spaces. There is no way she (Olin) could have seen it.". They say theres 300 of them on this island.. 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. Florida is one of their favorite habitats, of course! If fishing, throw fish scraps away into trash cans, not the water. Observe and photograph alligators only from 30 feet or more away. Students, staff, family, and friends came together on Friday for the annual unified basketball game at Fort Myers High School. The dog, Jazzy, was found abandoned in a hotel room in Orlando earlier this month, Orange County Animal Services said on Facebook. 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. 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. I dont know that were getting a reputation for it, Greenstein said. 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. Closely supervise children when they are playing in or around water. Robert Steele, 81 . Pitts says you never know whats lurking below the waters surface. If an Alligator is chasing you RUN STRAIGHT. It is during these times that alligator sightings are most prevalent. Count on NBC2 to bring you the latest developments on this story. Just as we love all wild life on Sanibel, we love our gators. 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. One of the best places to see crocodiles in Florida is also Everglades National Park!. 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. A chamber employee told a reporter the meeting was about alligators. Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. Chief Barrett explained that capturing the gator was like fishing. nature trails to explore and a huge wildlife refuge. But its now something Pitts says she is wary of and wants others to be aware of too. Golf Courses The 2 best golf courses to Gator spot are The Dunes and Sanibel Island Golf Club. Chief Barrett explained that the worker is from Arkansas and was washing his hands in the pond when he was attacked. These feared but fascinating creatures are common on the island. (3.7 m) alligator while working on landscaping along Poinciana Circle Sanibel, Florida. They need to do something about it., Its unbelievable, said Rudder, 39. After the gator was captured FWC's gator trappers gave Fox 4 a closer look at the gator that bit a man's arm. Allison Christian faces a charge of aggravated animal cruelty, according to an arrest report. Sanibel officials plan to meet Tuesday, Aug. 3, to discuss city policies on gators, which Councilman Steve Brown says may be too liberal. The 2-year-old Nebraska boy snatched by an alligator at a lake. In April 2004, a 74-year-old woman was grabbed by the leg and pulled underwater by a 9-foot, 7-inch gator. July 23, 2004: Landscaper Janie Melsek, 54, died from a severe infection two days after she was mauled by a 12-foot, 457-pound alligator on Sanibel Island. 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. No Collier County attacks are included on FWC's list of fatal alligator attacks. Abo has treated several alligator bites over the years, and commented on dangers of human-alligator run-ins. Sanibel Fire said people at the scene were able to make a tourniquet for the man before medics arrived. 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. She suffered a broken thumb and gashes on a leg. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn. An 11-foot alligator killed an elderly man walking his dog by a canal, biting off part of his leg in the third deadly alligator incident in Florida this year. Luckily the man could pull himself free, but he lost a lot of blood. Officials said the man was able to free himself and call 911. Weve encroached upon their turf. ", Contact Valli Finney at vallimfinney@yahoo.com, PHOTOS: County Commissioners square off at forum, Collier commission candidates clash over fracking. It seems to have worked for years. Were invading their territory. Sept. 26, 2004: Georgia college student Michelle Reeves, 20, drowned after an alligator bit off part of her right arm while she apparently went skinny-dipping in a lake in Fort Myers. How much should your insurance company pay, and can an adjuster stack on costs? These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, First Woman Miami-Dade Transit Bus Operator Wins Roadeo in Competition's 40-Year History, From Haiti Through Liberty City to Top Federal Prosecutor in South Florida: the Unlikely Story of Markenzy Lapointe. We can tell you how to appreciate these mighty creatures, Alligators on Sanibel are very interesting creatures that have been roaming the earth since prehistoric times. According to the press release, the man suffered a serious injury to his right forearm. WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. If you see an alligator, the best thing to do is leave it alone. Experts trapped the cold blooded animal with meat and lassoed it. Gators are common in Florida and Chief Barrett said they respond to these types of calls more often than you will think. 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. Then, they dragged it in on shore and away from the water to be euthanized. 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. It was a bit of a struggle, Chief Barett said. Janie Melsek, 54, was attacked Wednesday by the. I think its pretty scary, Ill tell you that, said Elaine Smith, a customer service representative at Bank of the Islands. A woman's service dog had a near death experience when an alligator lunged for it off the Sanibel Causeway recently. Expect sustained winds between ten to twenty miles per hour, with wind gusts as strong as thirty []. 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. They attack somebody and they take them out and kill them. A 54-year-old landscaper, Melsek was attacked Wednesday by an alligator that was 11 feet, 9 inches long and weighed 457 pounds. Officials were about ready to give up nearly two hours into the hunt for the gator. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 500,000 open heart surgeries are performed in the U.S. every year, and half of those patients require a blood transfusion. That will require a bit (a lot) of a detour from going directly to Sanibel Island, as the spot to (maybe!) I am linking . High humidity will make our afternoon feels like temperatures reach the 90s in many spots. Please do your part in protecting the Island's wildlife by not feeding alligators. But what is the Florida Department of Transportation actually doing on the Sanibel Causeway? Sadly, there was a time they almost became extinct. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. It was evident that hed lost a lot of blood and potentially had other damage to his tendons, Abo said. So it wouldve been devastating, so Im just happy that it turned out the way that it did, and I just want to let other people know that theyre actually there right off the causeway, and that, you know, for people to be careful.. They rushed to the scene to help the wounded man. Hes my service dog, so he saves my life a lot, Pitts said. Dogs are more susceptible to being attacked than humans because dogs resemble the natural prey of alligators. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, where alligators are often sighted, according to the Sanibel Captiva Guide. According to Sanibel Fire Department, a 25-year-old man was attacked around 11:06 AM along a pond near Baileys General Store located at 2477 Periwinkle Way. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A Sanibel landscaper was attacked by a 6-foot alligator Wednesday and escaped with stitches to her hand. According to officers, the man was washing his hands in the pond when the alligator attacked.. Robert Steele, 82, was killed by a. 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. About three hours after the attack, first responders were able to get the gator out of the pond. In Naples, city council authorized the city manager to spend up to $100,000 to expedite the cleanup of dead fish within the city waterways []. 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. Miami, FL 33141 High temperatures will climb into the 80s and low 90s under mostly sunny skies. Medical professionals applied a commercial-grade tourniquet and took the man to a hospital. 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.