Guide To Waterfront Dining. The primary factor in the evaluation is determining the potential danger posed by an alligator or crocodile. High temperatures will climb into the 80s and low 90s under mostly sunny skies. 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. A word to the wise should be sufficient. Sometimes they will use a big hook, and a large piece of meat and throw it out there and catch him, Chief Barrett said. Be aware of the possibility of alligator attacks when in or near fresh or brackish bodies of water. Third, during winter months, alligators are lethargic and pretty much just lay around. Sanibel Island, Florida 33957 It was a bit of a struggle, Chief Barett said. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Jane C. Keefer, 74, of Sanibel, was attacked April 21 by a gator in the yard of her Blue Heron Drive home. John C. Goede: Can changes be made to common areas without members' approval? After the gator was captured FWC's gator trappers gave Fox 4 a closer look at the gator that bit a man's arm. Many attacks occur when people do not pay close enough attention to their surroundings when working or recreating near water. Weve had too many attacks recently, I think, said Smith, 62. Latest News Updates for Sanibel Island & SWFL. The 2-year-old Nebraska boy snatched by an alligator at a lake. If you encounter a nuisance alligator or see someone feeding an alligator, IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE SANIBEL POLICE DEPARTMENT AT (239) 472-3111. According to the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Melsek was the 14th person to be killed by a gator in Florida since 1973. Donna Yetsko recalled seeing the gator that attacked Melsek at least twice a week. 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. A chamber employee told a reporter the meeting was about alligators. Recently, an alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. Do not throw them in the water. Chamber Executive Director Steve Greenstein insisted that wasnt true. 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 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. At least four people have been killed in alligator incidents this year in the U.S., two in Florida. Also, understand that if youre near a nest, theyre going to be protective.. WSVN broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. If fishing, throw fish scraps away into trash cans, not the water. It is during these times that alligator sightings are most prevalent. The attack happened on the 2400 block of Periwinkle Way around 11:00 am. It will be euthanized. The gator reached up and grabbed his arm, Abo said. 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. 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. It is a celebration of nature at its finest. Mayor Marty Harrity met Friday with directors of the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. 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. A Sanibel landscaper was attacked by a 6-foot alligator Wednesday and escaped with stitches to her hand. Sanibel Island is currently closed to non-residents, with the exception of first responders and recovery workers, as local authorities continue storm cleanup. Police Chief Bill Tomlinson said hes been asked to make a presentation on city policies and the alligator complaints the city has recorded. (2022), The Sanibel and Captiva Farmers Markets (2022), 11 Local Favorites For A Sanibel Island Sunset (2022). 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. SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. A monster alligator was spotted walking around a parking lot on Sanibel Island, Florida. The myth that they cant catch you if you run in a zig zag is not true. 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. 9 years ago Save Actually, Sanibel has a gator population estimated at about 300-350 gators, mostly due to the fact 65% of the island is protected conservation land and there are numerous small lakes and ponds for them to live in. Alligators On Sanibel Island - The SanCap Guide It's the sunshine state! 239-395-7671, Copyright 2020 - 2021|Avada Theme by. Alligators can climb and quite well, just something to be aware of. Four of those deaths involve a child under age 5. According to Sanibel Fire the man was severely bitten but is expected to be okay. The dog, Jazzy, was found abandoned in a hotel room in Orlando earlier this month, Orange County Animal Services said on Facebook. Crews are starting the long-term repairs after Hurricane Ian, causing traffic jams in Southwest Florida. 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. Do not let your small pets, such as dogs drink from or swim in, freshwater. By the beginning of April, when the weather starts to warm, alligators become active, feeding more, looking for new territories and mating. First, alligators are opportunistic eaters. Swim in the daytime, Alligators are most active at night. Sanibel Island is an incredible place to experience nature. A fish kill is filling up the water in Southwest Florida. Poor Janie is the one who had to suffer for it.. Jeannie Pitts was throwing the frisbee with her dog, Honey, when a 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. Leave alligators alone. They say theres 300 of them on this island.. I dont know if I agree with the brunt of the people blaming the alligator, Myerson 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.. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WSVN-TV. 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! The gator weighed 100 pounds, but its sex was not immediately determined. Among the fascinating animals and birds to observe is the mighty Alligator. And we love our tourists. It was evident that hed lost a lot of blood and potentially had other damage to his tendons, Abo said. Trappers later caught and killed an 8-1/2-foot alligator that had some of her body parts in its belly. The body of Alexandria Murphy was found near the shoreline of Lake Cannon in Winter Haven an hour after her family reported her missing. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. If you see anything and the gators appear to be nuisance, call the Sanibel police. A woman who had worked on Sanibel for many years was attacked by an alligator while working. Howsmon, 54, said the gator population needs to be thinned. We can tell you how to appreciate these mighty creatures safely, respectfully, and responsibly. Pitts grabbed her smaller dog, and Honey was able to run away from the gator unscathed. They are a protected species and given the percentage of conservation land on the island are a common sight that is to be celebrated. 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! These feared but fascinating creatures are common on the island. 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. They attack somebody and they take them out and kill them. Never feed or entice alligators it is dangerous and illegal. Alligators, if they have been left alone, will generally not attack you. State law prohibits killing, feeding, harassing or possession of alligators. Animals in the region were disrupted by Hurricane Ian in September, and may have found new homes in unexpected places. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Alligators on Sanibel are very interesting creatures that have been roaming the earth since prehistoric times. SANIBEL, Fla. (WSVN) Rescue teams saved a mans life after a harrowing alligator attack in Sanibel. see crocodiles in an area called Flamingo in the Everglades that's located pretty far out of the way.. There are many misconceptions about Alligators but they are still dangerous and as humans, we have to behave, Forgotten Sanibel Recipe Lemon Pecten Cakes, Local Sanibel Artist Rachel Pierce Hurricane Ian & Pop Up Shops, Sanibel Bailey Tract Trails & Meditation Hike! What went wrong: A look at the detainment and release of NFL player Nate Allen by Fort Myers police. It was the state's first such fatal attack since 2007. 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, They are a protected species and given the percentage of conservation land on the island are a common sight that is to. She survived the attack but died later of an infection caused by the bite. ", Contact Valli Finney at vallimfinney@yahoo.com, PHOTOS: County Commissioners square off at forum, Collier commission candidates clash over fracking. Hes my service dog, so he saves my life a lot, Pitts said. The man had been washing his hands in a pond when the alligator bit him on the forearm in Sanibel, Florida Credit: Wink. The cause of death was listed as systemic inflammatory response syndrome.. Please do your part in protecting the Island's wildlife by not feeding alligators. 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 alligator,. Learn More GatorBites Tail & Ale One of the best places to see crocodiles in Florida is also Everglades National Park!. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers, along with a Florida State trapper, searched the area in an attempt to capture the alligator. They are native to Mexico, China, and the United States. That will require a bit (a lot) of a detour from going directly to Sanibel Island, as the spot to (maybe!) This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. U.S. news An 88-year-old woman was killed in a suspected alligator attack at a gated community near Hilton Head, S.C. "It was guarding her and did not want people close by," a law enforcement. SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. -- Janie Melseks death Friday morning had many people on Sanibel talking about the same thing alligators. Dogs are more susceptible to being attacked than humans because dogs resemble the natural prey of alligators. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp These feared but fascinating creatures are common on the 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. Yetsko and his wife, Donna Yetsko, 51, were doing yard work of their own Friday when they learned Melsek had died. Laitham Haddad shared the video with Fort Myers NBC affiliate WBBH. But its now something Pitts says she is wary of and wants others to be aware of too. The man was able to free. The victim fell into a pond in a gated community in Hilton Head Island, . Pitts says you never know whats lurking below the waters surface. 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.". Rubio hopes to rebound four months after loss, Guest commentary: Support solar in Florida? Ironically, Olin lives on the same street as Sanibel's only other fatal gator attack victim. 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. The only Gator bite you want is just over the causeway offering great food, excellent service, live entertainment, and a large outdoor patio. Officials said the man was able to free himself and call 911. 239-267-1317 Murray said he doesn't recall any other Sanibel gator attacks on humans recently.