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. What's happening to turtle nests along Naples' beaches? Wind gusts will not become as strong as yesterday. Observe and photograph alligators only from a distance. 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. A chamber employee told a reporter the meeting was about alligators. Despite the frightening encounter, that man is expected to recover. 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. Tribal police divers found the body of Justo Antonio Padron, 36, the next afternoon, with alligator teeth marks on the upper torso. Trappers later killed 10 alligators in the Dead River, including one they decided was responsible. Luckily, all three got away without injuries. Around 2:00 in the afternoon first responders were able to get the alligator out of the pond. VIDEO: 10-foot gator spotted lounging in Sanibel Island parking lot - WPTV 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. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. Do not swim in water inhabited by Alligators. If you want to go there, you will want to go there before you really start driving to Sanibel Island. GatorBites Tail & Ale Allison Christian faces a charge of aggravated animal cruelty, according to an arrest report. State law prohibits killing, feeding, harassing or possession of alligators. "Pretty much every body of water has an alligator in it, including some swimming pools," Chief Barrett said. 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. sad news of an Alligator attack on Sanibel - Page 2 - Fodor's There is a huge commitment to conservation and the, (SCCF) is the largest, private landowner on the island, . They did say the gator will be put asleep. A womans service dog had a near death experience when an alligator lunged for it off the Sanibel Causeway recently. There is no way she (Olin) could have seen it.". 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. Smith had known Melsek, who was a bank customer, for 23 years. Learn More Alligator attacks man who was washing hands in pond City of Sanibel Alligator Policy | City of Sanibel - Sanibel, Florida 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. 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.. Dispose of fish scraps in garbage cans at freshwater boat ramps, docks or fish camps. Janie Melsek, 54, was attacked Wednesday by the. Not only was there a game, but college students showed up for a dunk contest. Expect sustained winds between ten to twenty miles per hour, with wind gusts as strong as thirty []. It was the state's first such fatal attack since 2007. Copyright 2023 Waterman Broadcasting of Florida, LLC, Home News Local Man seriously injured after alligator attack on Sanibel. There are. Dogs are more susceptible to being attacked than humans because dogs resemble the natural prey of alligators. 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. 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. SANIBEL, Fla. (WSVN) Rescue teams saved a mans life after a harrowing alligator attack in Sanibel. The attack happened on the 2400 block of Periwinkle Way around 11:00 am. The dog, Jazzy, was found abandoned in a hotel room in Orlando earlier this month, Orange County Animal Services said on Facebook. If you see anything and the gators appear to be nuisance, call the Sanibel police. 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. The myth that they cant catch you if you run in a zig zag is not true. Youve got to be careful., Turf Masters Brands expands with recent acquisitions, Project EverGreen receives $50,000 matching grant from MEDC, Schill Grounds Management promotes 4 to senior positions, Schill Grounds Management acquires GrassCor, SavATree merges with Lyndon Tree Care & Landscaping. The man was able to free himself from the. Never let small children play by themselves near freshwater. A photo of the aftermath of the attack is so graphic we had to blur it, but with a closer . Since alligators are cold-blooded reptiles, their metabolic rate increases and decreases as water and air temperatures fluctuate. Feeding alligators is a criminal act, punishable with up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail. We can tell you how to appreciate these mighty creatures safely, respectfully, and responsibly. If you encounter a nuisance alligator or see someone feeding an alligator, IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE SANIBEL POLICE DEPARTMENT AT (239) 472-3111. . 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. Weve encroached upon their turf. []. Its the orange cord wrapped around his arm. It seems to have worked for years. When fed, alligators lose their natural fear and learn to associate people with food. Recently, an alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. It is during these times that alligator sightings are most prevalent. At Baileys General Store, employees Anastasia Cardenas, John Howsmon and Travis Rudder talked about gators as they took a break from work. But some may take the signs to heart in such a way that inhibits their enjoyment of the island. By the beginning of April, when the weather starts to warm, alligators become active, feeding more, looking for new territories and mating. 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. Chief Barrett explained that the worker is from Arkansas and was washing his hands in the pond when he was attacked. Remember they are an important part of Sanibels natural history as well as an integral component of our freshwater ecosystem. 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. The alligator, found with the missing leg in his mouth, was destroyed. 239-267-1317 The following is a list of safety tips to ensure that your time spent on Sanibel is both rewarding and safe. At least four people have been killed in alligator incidents this year in the U.S., two in Florida. Murray said it was skinny for an alligator. 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. Among the fascinating animals and birds to observe is the mighty Alligator. Luckily the man could pull himself free, but he lost a lot of blood. "She got stitches in her right hand and was given appropriate medication and medical care," Adams said. Robert Steele, 81 . 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. Third, during winter months, alligators are lethargic and pretty much just lay around. A nearby alligator behaved aggressively toward the divers, and was trapped and euthanized. It is also illegal. List: 24 fatal alligator attacks in Florida since 1973 - The News-Press Janie Melsek Photo: The News-Press. Greenstein said hes not worried Sanibel which depends heavily on tourism could become known as a dangerous place because of gators. 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. We just want to see a sensible distance between the two! It was a bit of a struggle, Chief Barett said. Visit Gatorbites Website. The latest bite brings to eight the number of people bitten by gators this year in Florida. 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. Recently, an alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. If you see an alligator, the best thing to do is leave it alone. Be aware of the possibility of alligator attacks when in or near fresh or brackish bodies of water. They will not be wandering the streets and beaches looking for a bite to eat. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. ", Contact Valli Finney at vallimfinney@yahoo.com, PHOTOS: County Commissioners square off at forum, Collier commission candidates clash over fracking. There are many misconceptions about Alligators but they are still dangerous and as humans, we have to behave respectfully and sensibly towards them. FWCs gator trappers gave us a close up of the gator after it was captured. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp Police shot the reptile to death before rushing Melsek to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers. Therefore, swim only during daylight hours. Guide to Captiva Restaurants A pretty good size gatorabout 8 to 10 feet gator came up and grabbed him by the arm. 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. The animal rescue said that she had arthritis and could barely walk when she was found.
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