"Obviously you can go kayaking, you can go swimming on beaches on that. Do not interact with gators because once a gator associates humans with food, they don’t see it as a handout," Howell explained. Even with that, Ranger Rob says if you see a body of water and cannot see the bottom, it's safe to assume there's an alligator in there. The alligator was in the middle of the road, according to the man. "If you get to close to a nest, gators are one of the few reptiles that are really good moms and they’re going to protect their nests of over 50 eggs." "When a gator truly goes after a human to attack, most of the time it’s to defend to their territory or their nest because you’re getting too close to a nest," Howell explained. In this case, the man says it was dark out and it's not clear why the gator attacked, though Ranger Rob has an idea. "If you’re going next to the water with a small animal or splashing or making the sounds of their prey, which are fish or herd fish or small mammals getting a drink, you’re going to attract their attention," Howell explained. Sheppard said the attack doesn't make him nervous, though local naturalist Ranger Rob Howell says you should be aware of them. "They’re crossing our fairways and golf course all the time," he said. Gators are not uncommon in Florida, and it's a sight Forest Glen homeowner Greg Sheppard is used to seeing. "Go figure, out for a walk to stay healthy," he told the dispatcher who replied, "and you get bit by an alligator." Though when trappers got there, it ended up being 6'9" female alligator. The man told dispatchers the gator was around three feet long. "There’s a lot of skin ripped off I can see," he said in the 911 call. "Very little blood loss as I wrapped my T-shirt around my leg to stop the bleeding," he said in an e-mail to Fox 4. He told Fox 4 he was walking in the middle of the street and "she came from out of nowhere." FWC says the alligator bit the man on the knee. In a casual tone, the man told dispatchers around 5 a.m. "I was just strolling along listening to my radio listening to Willie’s Roadhouse." "I just got bit by an alligator in my community and I’m walking home," the man told the dispatcher. In a 911 call obtained by Fox 4, the man calmly described what happened. He told us his injury required a little more than 50 staples, but he had no muscle or nerve damage. Florida Wildlife Conservation says he was walking at the Forest Glen Golf Course and Country Club when the gator attacked him.Īfter our story aired, the man, who wished to not be identified, reached out to Fox 4. A 79-year-old Naples man is recovering after being bit by an alligator early Thursday morning.
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