A Florida man fought an alligator in a bid to save his pet dog from being eaten into the jaws of a massive 12-foot monster, it was reported earlier this week.
The man was walking with his girlfriend at a popular Florida park when all of a sudden, the giant reptile came out of nowhere and snatched their pup.
The dog was saved and was seriously injured, and the gator was hunted down.
Florida Alligator Dog Attack
A small alligator swims through the marsh at Orlando Wetlands Park in Christmas, Florida, on March 1, 2023. - The 1650-acre park is a man-made wetland designed to provide advanced treatment for reclaimed water from the City of Orlando and other local cities.
Following the incident, a Florida alligator trapper Jerry Flynn, who is called when alligators reach the "nuisance" threshold, said there are numerous large alligators in the Little Econ River, the site where the couple's dog was snatched by the 12-foot alligator last week, FOX 35 Orlando reported.
Based on the report, the man jumped on the back of the alligator as soon as his pet was snatched and was able to free it. Flynn's nephew, who works for him, was the one who took down the alligator since the incident was not immediately reported to the local police.
The trapper also stated alligator attacks are more frequent during warm weather, as cited by Blaze Media. If such attacks occur, wildlife authorities usually euthanize the animal to prevent further threats to humans, pets, and even other alligators, the media agency adds.
Also Read: Giant Alligator Kills Man at a Private Golf Community in South Carolina
Florida Alligator Population
There is a large American alligator population in Florida, according to local wildlife authorities. For this reason, encounters with wild animals, especially near bodies of water like retention ponds, swamps, lakes, or rivers, are expected. In previous cases, there have been several reports where the animals wander into populated areas and even inside homes.
The alligators have inhabited the Sunshine State for many centuries and are found in all 67 counties of the state, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which reported that human population growth was observed in Florida over recent years. Many Florida residents seek waterfront homes and have been active in water-related activities, including fishing.
With this, the risk for alligator-human interactions has increased, with a greater chance for conflict, the FWC says. Even nuisance alligators (smaller ones) can pose a threat to both humans and their pets. However, large ones can be more deadly to their immediate community.
Florida Alligator Attacks
Florida alligator attacks on humans and their pets are relatively rare but they do occur. In recent years, some gator attacks on people result in either injury or death.
In 2022, a 47-year-old Florida man searching and collecting for frisbees in a lake, near a golf course, was killed by an alligator, The New York Times reported. In a case of a potentially provoked attack, the man entered the territory of the predator.
In a related case last year, an 85-year-old Florida woman was dragged and killed by a 10-foot alligator while walking her dog in Fort Pierce, according to the FWC which investigated the deadly gator attack, as cited by Wesh Orlando news.
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