Wildlife officials urge vigilance after alligator kills dog in North Fort Myers

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Alligator mating season is increasing the species' activity and aggression, leading to unexpected appearances in residential areas, and wildlife experts are urging people to stay alert.

In the Tara Woods neighborhood of North Fort Myers, Haywood Gandy said his dog, Gia, was killed by an alligator in his backyard after he let her outside to use the bathroom around 3 a.m.

"I'm sitting on the porch, and I heard the big splash. So, unfortunately, we know what that probably meant," Gandy said.

Florida Fish and Wildlife responded to the incident, and a trapper later removed an alligator from the nearby lake.

Ranger Rob Howell, a naturalist with the nonprofit Keep It Wild, explained the dynamics of alligator breeding season, which occurs in April, May, and early June.

"The eggs are being laid, they're finding mates and things like that. But also, the rains are going to start, and when the rains start, it puts a layer of fresh water on top of some of the brackish water ecosystems in the salt water. So normally, you wouldn't see gators in saltwater ecosystems that often. But when there's freshwater on top, you sure can," Howell said.

Howell also warned that alligators can confuse pets with their natural prey, leading to deadly encounters.

"If you are walking a dog in Florida, you've got to stay 15, 20 feet away from the water. And if your dog's off-leash, like in this situation seems to be, all bets are off. The gators see little animals as prey items; they always have. So it's, it's just you got to have that in mind that we're dealing with animals that have been hunting other animals in this way for millions of years," Howell said.

Gandy reflected on the memories he shared with Gia, describing her as a beloved member of the family.

"She was just a ball of love. She was definitely a part of the family that you cared about," Gandy said.

Wildlife experts remind residents to stay away from the water's edge, keep children and pets close, and always assume that any body of water in Florida may contain an alligator.

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