FL Man Bitten By 8-Foot Gator While Trying To Save His Dog

NAPLES, FL — A man was bitten on the leg by an alligator while trying to rescue his dog in Naples, according to multiple reports.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received the report about the incident on Sunday, WINK News said.

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The attack happened while the man was pulling his dog from the edge of a pond at the Esplanade Golf and Country Club, Gulf Coast News Now reported. He’s being treated for his injuries.

A contacted nuisance alligator trapper removed an 8-foot, 3-inch gator from the pond, reports said.

The man was bitten at the peak of gator mating season. Courtship begins in April, followed by peak mating activity in May and June.

The FWC offers the following tips for safely co-existing with alligators:

• Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator and never feed them.
• Swim only in designated areas during daylight hours. Gators are most active between dusk and dawn.
• Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge. Never let them swim in fresh or brackish water.

Those who believe a gator poses a threat to people, pets or property can call the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR. The agency will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to the area.

See Also:

• Alligator Attack On Cow Prompts Closure Of Central FL Conservation Area
• 2 Gators Removed In Tampa As Mating Season Starts In FL