FWC urges pet safety after Collier County man is bitten by alligator near pond

IMMOKALEE, Fla. —

A Collier County man was bitten by an alligator on Sunday while retrieving his dog from the edge of a pond at Esplanade Golf and Country Club, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Fred Robbins, an airboat captain for Airboats and Alligators with nearly 40 years of experience, explained the nature of alligators. "Alligators naturally are scared of us," Robbins said.

Speaking at Lake Trafford Marina in Immokalee, Robbins described the prehistoric nature of the animals. "They're literally dinosaurs still on Earth. So they haven't changed since, and they've been perfected long before we got here," Robbins said.

Right now, alligators are in the middle of mating season, which is why they tend to be more aggressive during this time of year.

Andrew Lynch, a lake technician for Collier County, shared advice on staying safe around alligators. "If you hear them making a certain grunting sound. Don't go near them and kind of don't go near the shoreline," Lynch said.

FWC advises keeping pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn, and feeding them is both illegal and dangerous.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.