Collier County man bitten by alligator while trying to rescue his dog

NAPLES, Fla. —

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. - A man was bitten on the leg by an alligator while retrieving his dog from the edge of a pond at the Esplanade Golf and Country Club, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

FWC received the report on May 3rd. The man is being treated for his injuries.

A contracted nuisance alligator trapper removed the 8”3’ alligator.

FWC says serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida. FWC offered several safety tips:

• Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator.
• Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge. Pets often resemble alligators’ natural prey.
• Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.
• Never feed an alligator. It’s illegal and dangerous. When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food. This can lead to an alligator becoming a nuisance and needing to be removed from the wild.

If someone is concerned about an alligator, they should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).