When the weather starts to warm, alligators become active, feeding more, looking for new territories and mating. She fought back and survived after being treated at a hospital. 2023 Sanibel Holiday All rights reserved. Also, understand that if youre near a nest, theyre going to be protective.. 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. Beaches remain closed on the island without boardwalks, and debris is scattered everywhere. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. The 2-year-old Nebraska boy snatched by an alligator at a lake. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel). 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.. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . There are. "Pretty much every body of water has an alligator in it, including some swimming pools," Chief Barrett said. Never feed Alligators, this will cause them to lose their natural fear of humans and associate humans with food. 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. No Collier County attacks are included on FWC's list of fatal alligator attacks. A woman's service dog had a near death experience when an alligator lunged for it off the Sanibel Causeway recently. Jeannie Pitts was throwing the frisbee with her dog, Honey, when a gator. The skin was very torn up on his arm. Do not swim outside of posted swimming areas or in waters that might be inhabited by large alligators. I am linking the report. FWC. Just as we love all wild life on Sanibel, we love our gators. Closely supervise children when they are playing in or around water. The toddler, from Nebraska, was vacationing. Guide to Captiva Restaurants 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. Learn More Greenstein said hes not worried Sanibel which depends heavily on tourism could become known as a dangerous place because of gators. If fishing, throw fish scraps away into trash cans, not the water. Recently, an alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. Oct. 19, 2015: The body of 62-year-old James Okkerse was found floating in Blue Springs State Park in central Florida with injuries consistent with an alligator attack. 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. A press release from the City of Sanibel stated the man was using the pond to wash his hands when the alligator bit his right arm. The construction can be seen all around, along with cranes, tools, and the crews doing all the work. Were invading their territory. nature trails to explore and a huge wildlife refuge. The alligator, found with the missing leg in his mouth, was destroyed. My wife Lori and I have been running a successful photography business on the islands since 2000. It is a celebration of nature at its finest. One of the biggest issues people are dealing with when it comes to insurance after Hurricane Ian is property damage. Now we've decided to share a little sunshine with those all over the world! According to the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Melsek was the 14th person to be killed by a gator in Florida since 1973. They are native to Mexico, China, and the United States. 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. A fish kill is filling up the water in Southwest Florida. Expect sustained winds between ten to twenty miles per hour, with wind gusts as strong as thirty []. High humidity will make our afternoon feels like temperatures reach the 90s in many spots. Animals in the region were disrupted by Hurricane Ian in September, and may have found new homes in unexpected places. 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. Do not swim in water inhabited by Alligators. Guide To Waterfront Dining. Many attacks occur when people do not pay close enough attention to their surroundings when working or recreating near water. An alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. They attack somebody and they take them out and kill them. 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. Authorities shot the alligator after Okkerse's body was found. Weve had too many attacks recently, I think, said Smith, 62. Poor Janie is the one who had to suffer for it.. There were three in the truck, but the one from the attack is the biggest one. 20351 Summerlin Rd, Fort Myers, FL 33908 Small, tropical, inviting, it is easy to feel that there is not a worry in the world while vacationing on Sanibel. 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 []. They did say the gator will be put asleep. They will not be wandering the streets and beaches looking for a bite to eat. A 54-year-old landscaper, Melsek was attacked Wednesday by an alligator that was 11 feet, 9 inches long and weighed 457 pounds. It is also illegal. Observe and photograph alligators only from a distance. GatorBites Tail & Ale A nearby alligator behaved aggressively toward the divers, and was trapped and euthanized. 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! Among the fascinating animals and birds to observe is the mighty Alligator. 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. It is during these times that alligator sightings are most prevalent. They rushed to the scene to help the wounded man. But what is the Florida Department of Transportation actually doing on the Sanibel Causeway? A woman who had worked on Sanibel for many years was attacked by an alligator while working. They were able to lure the animal in to range with meat, and eventually subdued it. 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. Sadly, there was a time they almost became extinct. There is a huge commitment to conservation and the, (SCCF) is the largest, private landowner on the island, . 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. Florida is one of their favorite habitats, of course! Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. Although you are not intentionally feeding alligators when you do this, the end result can be the same. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers, along with a Florida State trapper, searched the area in an attempt to capture the alligator. Around 2:00 in the afternoon first responders were able to get the alligator out of the pond. A trapper later killed the alligator. 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. Murray said it was skinny for an alligator. To have it end this way is just so sad.. 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. Man seriously injured after alligator attack on Sanibel, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' star dies at 61. Students, staff, family, and friends came together on Friday for the annual unified basketball game at Fort Myers High School. 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. 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. 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 . Sanibel Fire said people at the scene were able to make a tourniquet for the man before medics arrived. An alligator is seen during a kayak tour near Everglades City on Dec. 2. 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. Sanibel Island, Florida 33957 It was a bit of a struggle, Chief Barett said. 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. Therefore, swim only during daylight hours. 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. 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! Despite a pretty gnarly bite, hes going to be OK, and his arm is going to be saved, Abdo told WSVN. 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. According to the press release, the man suffered a serious injury to his right forearm. She had toxic levels of alcohol and an anti-depression drug in her body, and authorities believed she was attacked on land and dragged into the canal. Laitham Haddad shared the video with Fort Myers NBC affiliate WBBH. 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. 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. Smith had known Melsek, who was a bank customer, for 23 years. The cause of death was listed as "systemic inflammatory response syndrome." Observe and photograph alligators only from 30 feet or more away. The decorative pond is about the size of a swimming pool, said Sanibel Police Maj. Michael Murray. Trappers later killed 10 alligators in the Dead River, including one they decided was responsible. 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. The 92 alligator was removed from the property, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). , there was a time they almost became extinct. 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 Steve Yetsko who called Sanibel police officers the real heroes in Melseks rescue said hes never had a serious problem with a gator. Contrary to popular belief, they have good eyesight and, their blind spot is in front of their nose. Their metabolism is very slow and they are not the ravenous monsters some think they are. What went wrong: A look at the detainment and release of NFL player Nate Allen by Fort Myers police. Firefighters are battling several brush fires in Charlotte County; the one off McCall Road threatens several buildings, including a church. Its the sunshine state! Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. Despite the frightening encounter, that man is expected to recover. Fifth, alligators can be lighting fast when they see you are in striking distance, 15 feet or less from them and the water. Ironically, Olin lives on the same street as Sanibel's only other fatal gator attack victim. Despite a pretty gnarly bite, hes going to be OK, and his arm is going to be saved, Abo said. . They manage over 1200 acres of conserved land. The victim fell into a pond in a gated community in Hilton Head Island, . Sanibel Island is an incredible place to experience nature. They need to do something about it., Its unbelievable, said Rudder, 39. And we love our tourists. Florida is one of their favorite habitats, of course! 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. 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. If you want to go there, you will want to go there before you really start driving to Sanibel Island. Medical professionals applied a commercial-grade tourniquet and took the man to a hospital. Besides that, doctors said, hes going to be just fine. 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. John C. Goede: Can changes be made to common areas without members' approval? Feeding alligators is a criminal act, punishable with up to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail. Not only was there a game, but college students showed up for a dunk contest. But its now something Pitts says she is wary of and wants others to be aware of too. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Ironically, Olin lives on the same street as Sanibel's only other fatal gator attack victim. Its the sunshine state! State law prohibits killing, feeding, harassing or possession of alligators. Among the fascinating animals and birds to observe is the mighty Alligator. 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. see crocodiles in an area called Flamingo in the Everglades that's located pretty far out of the way.. The gator, a 12-foot, 3-inch male was removed and destroyed. The 450-pound alligator was killed. 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. Newsroom: (305) 795-2777. Get updates on developing stories as they happen with our free breaking news email alerts.