The skin was very torn up on his arm. What went wrong: A look at the detainment and release of NFL player Nate Allen by Fort Myers police. The City of Sanibel and its authorized agents are authorized to receive and appropriately . Alligator on the beach - Sanibel Island! Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 6-foot alligator attacks Sanibel woman - Naples Daily News They were able to lure the animal in to range with meat, and eventually subdued it. A 12-foot alligator had been spotted in the lake twice the day before his body was found, forcing the park to close temporarily each time. Also, understand that if youre near a nest, theyre going to be protective.. Chamber Executive Director Steve Greenstein insisted that wasnt true. 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. If you see an alligator, the best thing to do is leave it alone. Besides that, doctors said, hes going to be just fine. Lauri Olin, 56, of Rabbit Road on Sanibel, was working for Wilson Landscape and Pond when a 6-foot, 7-inch gator grabbed her hand while she worked at 5206 Punta Caloosa Court, said Officer Joanne Adams, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman. So he wants everyone to remember to be cautious. 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. I think they shouldnt let them get that big. If you encounter a nuisance alligator or see someone feeding an alligator, IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE SANIBEL POLICE DEPARTMENT AT (239) 472-3111. The singular exception may be the presence of alligators, and you will see signs warning about them posted throughout the Island. 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 Sanibel Island canal. I thought about whether to post this news or. 2000s. It usually sat on the bank across the pond, she said. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. Alligators, if they have been left alone, will generally not attack you. Steve Yetsko who called Sanibel police officers the real heroes in Melseks rescue said hes never had a serious problem with a gator. Administrative Services/ Human Resources/ Benefits/ Pensions, Business Tax Receipts (formerly Occupational Licenses), Police including Emergency Management Forms, Register with AlertLee for Emergency Announcements, Register for Recreation Center Activities, City of Sanibel Demographics - April 27, 2021, Commercial Hurricane Re-Entry Application. Never feed or entice alligators it is dangerous and illegal. That gator was killed and another 6-foot gator was removed. 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. Miami, FL 33141 According to the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Melsek was the 14th person to be killed by a gator in Florida since 1973. These feared but fascinating creatures are common on the island. Do not swim in water inhabited by Alligators. According to officers, the man was washing his hands in the pond when the alligator attacked.. It seems to have worked for years. Sanibel & SWFL- UPDATE 12/16/22 - Alligator Attack, FEMA Trailers Recently, an alligator in a pond on Sanibel Island attacked a man who was washing his hands in the water. Animals in the region were disrupted by Hurricane Ian in September, and may have found new homes in unexpected places. Then, they dragged it in on shore and away from the water to be euthanized. Large alligator spotted roaming around Sanibel Island - YouTube Enter one or more recipient email addresses separated by commas or spaces. GatorBites Tail & Ale May 4, 2001: The chewed body of 70-year-old Samuel Wetmore was found floating in a south Sarasota County retention pond with an 8-foot alligator circling nearby. Wind gusts will not become as strong as yesterday. If you encounter a nuisance alligator or see someone feeding an alligator, IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE SANIBEL POLICE DEPARTMENT AT (239) 472-3111. 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. First, alligators are opportunistic eaters. 1401 79th Street Causeway Obviously, theres more people moving onto the island, he said. Sanibel Island is an incredible place to experience nature. Alligator on Sanibel Island - YouTube They will not be wandering the streets and beaches looking for a bite to eat. Do not swim outside of posted swimming areas or in waters that might be inhabited by large alligators. The tourniquet was lifesaving. ", Contact Valli Finney at vallimfinney@yahoo.com, PHOTOS: County Commissioners square off at forum, Collier commission candidates clash over fracking. We quickly became acquainted with everything Sanibel & Captiva have to offer. Officials said the man was able to free himself and call 911. A 54-year-old landscaper, Melsek was attacked Wednesday by an alligator that was 11 feet, 9 inches long and weighed 457 pounds. The latest bite brings to eight the number of people bitten by gators this year in Florida. Weve encroached upon their turf. The Truth About Alligators on Sanibel Island Man bitten by alligator in Florida pond sustains "serious injury" 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. WSVN-TVSunbeam Television Corp Alligators on Sanibel are awesome to see, but you have to be careful and cautious, make sure you don't feed them or get to close! An 11-foot-4-inch, 407-pound alligator that was confirmed to have killed her was euthanized. Lost a lot of blood, but hes fine.. I dont know if I agree with the brunt of the people blaming the alligator, Myerson said. Remember they are an important part of Sanibels natural history as well as an integral component of our freshwater ecosystem. Now we've decided to share a little sunshine with those all over the world! 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. 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 , there was a time they almost became extinct. Other fatal alligator attacks in Florida - WCPO The man is taking antibiotics and needs to clean his wounds thoroughly and often. About 50 yards from where Cardenas and her co-workers took a smoke, Andrew Myerson, 39, sat in a small clearing next to a creek where gators are seen so often that signs warn visitors that its against the law to feed them. Switchboard: (305) 751-6692 (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel). Ironically, Olin lives on the same street as Sanibel's only other fatal gator attack victim. A photo of the aftermath of the attack is so graphic we had to blur it, but with a closer . There were three in the truck, but the one from the attack is the biggest one. "Thankfully Lauri's OK," Murray said. Howsmon, 54, said the gator population needs to be thinned. Are There Alligators On Sanibel Island? Top 6 Best Answers Remember they are an important part of Sanibel's natural history as well as an integral component of our freshwater ecosystem. Expect sustained winds between ten to twenty miles per hour, with wind gusts as strong as thirty []. Contrary to popular belief, they have good eyesight and, their blind spot is in front of their nose. Sometimes they will use a big hook, and a large piece of meat and throw it out there and catch him, Chief Barrett said. 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. Enter your message or notes here to be included in the email. Second, a full grown alligator can exist on one raccoon for months. Sanibel Island is an incredible place to experience nature. There are several places to spot Alligators on Sanibel and, they are most active in the warmer months. Medical professionals applied a commercial-grade tourniquet and took the man to a hospital. One of the biggest issues people are dealing with when it comes to insurance after Hurricane Ian is property damage. When the weather starts to warm, alligators become active, feeding more, looking for new territories and mating. Firefighters are battling several brush fires in Charlotte County; the one off McCall Road threatens several buildings, including a church. Then vote no on solar amendment, Ray McNulty: Jim Kaat tells different side to Greg Norman's battle with Medalist Golf Club. Learn More They should move the big ones to where theyre not around people.. The only Gator bite you want is just over the causeway offering great food, excellent service, live entertainment, and a large outdoor patio. What do we expect?. They rushed to the scene to help the wounded man. She later died of the wounds. She survived the attack but died later of an infection caused by the bite. As more people start to pile into the area, and beaches reopen, the fish kill will become a bigger problem. Once endangered, alligators now number more than 1 million, state officials believe. The cause of death was listed as systemic inflammatory response syndrome.. She suffered a broken thumb and gashes on a leg. She heard a loud splash and when she turned around her son was gone. Four of those deaths involve a child under age 5. Never allow small children to play by themselves near water. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. There is a huge commitment to conservation and the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) is the largest, private landowner on the island. At least four people have been killed in alligator incidents this year in the U.S., two in Florida. FWCs gator trappers gave us a close up of the gator after it was captured. Alligators On Sanibel Island - The Sanibel Captiva Guide I thought she was pulling through, Steve Yetsko said. Sanibel contains over 2,200 acres of freshwater wetlands that provide habitat for a sizable population of alligators. Pond Apple Trail 1159 Causeway Road. The gator released Melsek after a five- to 10-minute tug of war with the gator on one side of her and police on the other. sad news of an Alligator attack on Sanibel - Fodor's Name, age, sex Date . May 10, 2006: The dismembered body of Yovy Suarez-Jimenez, 28, was found by construction workers in a canal in Broward County. Do not harass Alligators in any manner. Theyre not in our yard, were in their territory. Sanibel Fires Division Chief Tim Barrett told Fox 4 that the alligator was between 8 and 10 feet long. SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. -- Janie Melseks death Friday morning had many people on Sanibel talking about the same thing alligators. There are numerous nature trails to explore and a huge wildlife refuge. Its the sunshine state! We can tell you how to appreciate these mighty creatures safely, respectfully, and responsibly. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says you can call its nuisance alligator hotline at 866-392-4286 if you are concerned about a gator. A woman's service dog had a near death experience when an alligator lunged for it off the Sanibel Causeway recently. Observe and photograph alligators only from 30 feet or more away. They pretty much lay in wait in fresh or brackish waters or on the edges of same for prey to come close by. 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. Pitts says you never know whats lurking below the waters surface. Get updates on developing stories as they happen with our free breaking news email alerts. Yetsko and his wife, Donna Yetsko, 51, were doing yard work of their own Friday when they learned Melsek had died. Since 1948, 491 people have been bitten. Among the fascinating animals and birds to observe is the mighty Alligator. Donna Yetsko recalled seeing the gator that attacked Melsek at least twice a week. A womans service dog had a near death experience when an alligator lunged for it off the Sanibel Causeway recently. 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.