A peaceful evening turned into a nightmare for a man in Daytona Beach, Florida, when he was violently attacked by a 9-foot alligator. Scott Hollingsworth, who lives near a lake where alligators are a common sight, was watching television with his wife when he heard something banging against their door. When he went to investigate, he was suddenly attacked by the alligator.
“I barely got out the door and got my leg clamped on and [it] started shaking really violently,” he recounted to local media. “It happened so quickly, wasn’t a whole lot [of time]. It was just total surprise and shock. We see alligators behind our house, it’s a regular thing, but they always keep their distance from us.”
Hollingsworth initially thought the alligator was only 6 or 7 feet long and was surprised to find out it was actually a fully grown adult measuring 9 feet long. After the attack, he was rushed to the hospital for surgery on his leg.
The attack occurred just a few weeks after another fatal alligator attack in a community retention pond at Spanish Lakes Fairways, over 100 miles away from Daytona Beach. An 85-year-old woman was killed by a 10-foot alligator that surged out of the water and tried to grab her dog. The alligator then grabbed her foot and dragged her into the water.
Despite their fierce reputation, attacks on humans by alligators are relatively rare in Florida. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, alligators are still on the federal endangered species list, but they can be found all over the state.
The state agency estimates that there are about 1.3 million alligators in Florida, which occur in practically all fresh and brackish water bodies and occasionally in saltwater. While exact population figures are not known, the agency says that Florida has a healthy and stable population of alligators.
However, the agency warns that feeding alligators is illegal and can cause them to lose their fear of humans.
“Feeding alligators is dangerous and illegal,” the agency states. “When fed, alligators can overcome their natural wariness and learn to associate people with food. When this happens, some of these alligators have to be removed and killed.”
The recent alligator attacks serve as a reminder for residents to be cautious when living in areas where alligators are present. While attacks on humans are rare, it’s always better to take precautions to ensure one’s safety.
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