Alligator lunges from pond — and man escapes with minor injuries, Florida officials say

A man was bitten by an alligator as he stood near a pond on Southwest Florida’s Sanibel Island, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The 37-year-old “was treated for minor injuries” at the scene, FWC officials said.

It happened Monday, April 24, in a subdivision along Rabbit Road, where two long, narrow ponds abut backyards on the west side of the street.

The man was cleaning storm debris at the water’s edge when the alligator “lunged out of the water, biting at his knees,” WBBH reports. “Miraculously, the man was able to walk away with only scratches,” the station said.

A licensed trapper was sent to the neighborhood to catch the alligator and FWC officials report two alligators were removed: One 7-feet long and the other 8-feet, 11-inches long.

Gators that pose a threat to people are categorized as nuisance alligators and are typically removed from proximity to human activity. Young nuisance alligators are relocated, while older ones may be euthanized.

Florida’s alligators are in the midst of their courtship season, with mating to follow in May and June, the state reports.

Sanibel Island is about 160 miles south of Tampa on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

This story was originally published April 25, 2023 at 10:01 AM with the headline "Alligator lunges from pond — and man escapes with minor injuries, Florida officials say."