Herp Report: Darwin may be calling
They say no good deed goes unpunished. Fortunately, it looks like that's true of bad deeds too.
From Alachua County Today, proof positive that alcohol and alligators do not mix:
As if getting bitten once wasn't enough, the man, who officials said appeared to be intoxicated, reached into the bushes to grab the gator again, and it obliged him by biting him, again.
The gator was trying to get to some water when Dirk Alan Willms, 44, (DOB 08/13/65), of 501 Lemon St., Sanford, decided to catch it.
Eventually, Willms subdued the 45-inch alligator and took it to his house. Someone who saw him with the alligator reported it to the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, which then called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
FWC Law Enforcement Officer Naomii Tye responded to the call, issued Willms a ticket for possessing an alligator, a second-degree misdemeanor, and then released the small reptile in nearby Lake Jesup. The maximum penalty for a second-degree misdemeanor is 60 days in jail and $500 fine.
Another meeting of alligator and man did not turn out well in Naples, however. From an editorial in the Naples News:
Surely, Delano did not mean to have his hand bitten off in the process of going swimming with friends. Yet, as is the case with traffic and other “accidents,” were there conditions within someone’s control that could have changed the outcome?
On the roads, that might include speed, being rushed, alertness or even sobriety. Plenty of “accidents” have causes that are affected by one or more participants.
At the swimming hole, could someone have known of the potential presence and dangers of alligators? Around Alligator Alley?
Are there better, safer, even cooler places to swim on a hot summer evening?
Yet another article points out this crucial point:
“It is no different than the beach. People get bit by sharks and others keep going to the beach,” said Nall.
Nall said the victim of last week’s attack should not have chosen to swim after dusk.
“You wouldn’t go down to the beach at 9 o’clock and jump in the water, would you? You can’t come out here at night and start splashing in the water. It is the splashing that brings the alligators to you. They think it is food in the water, especially after dark,” said Nall.
And from the Florida AP, a reminder from Fish and Wildlife:
Beware of gators. Florida wildlife officials want residents to be safe and use "common sense" around water.
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologist, Lindsey Hord, says people should swim only in designated areas, keep their pets away from the water's edge, refrain from feeding alligators, maintain a safe distance and leave the gators alone.
While I feel for the boy that lost his hand, respect and common sense when in areas where these animals live is crucial to avoid becoming the next victim. And kudos to the media for focusing more on safety and personal responsibility than a witch hunt against the alligators.
