Recent alligator attacks remind us: ‘They are around us all the time’

It’s alligator mating season and rescue teams and hospitals have been busy responding to and treating alligator injuries.

A farm worker in Palm City bitten in the leg from a 9-foot alligator on Wednesday.

Last Sunday a baby alligator was spotted lounging around in a fountain in Palm Beach Gardens.

And last week there was a dog named Brady attacked and his leg was amputated of an apparent alligator bite near Lake Worth Beach.

“Maintain a safe distance to protect yourself when living with these animals,” said Kelly Fad, general curator of the Palm Beach Zoo.

She said it is currently alligator mating season, which runs from May to June and causes the reptiles to be much more active.

“These mothers take care of these babies. The males take care of their ponds and they will be protective,” Fad said. “Animals are not mean. Animals are just trying to do what they can to survive.”

She said there are two American alligators and one white alligator at the Palm Beach Zoo.

According to Fad, alligators were in danger of extinction until conservation efforts were taken.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife and Conservation Commission (FWC) reports that Florida’s alligator population is 1.3 million.

“They’re around us all the time and we don’t know,” Fad said, “so just be a little more aware.”

According to the FWC, over the past decade, there have been an average of eight unprovoked bites per year in Florida that were serious enough to require medical attention.

At HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, Dr. David Rubay said that this year alone he has had to operate on three people due to alligator attacks.

“One of them was trying to catch the dog or free his dog from the alligator. One of them was swimming in the shallow water and suddenly the alligator bit him on the foot,” Rubay said. “The most severe illness resulted in the amputation of part of the hand due to the extent of tissue destruction.”

Rubay said alligators have long teeth that penetrate flesh.

He said the wounds on the teeth are often small but deep, making treatment difficult.

“One of the most important things about alligator bites is that we consider them infected, and they are usually very dirty because the alligator lives in ponds and water,” Rubay said. “Their mouth and teeth are infected with certain types of bacteria that get into the wound and can become very difficult to treat with regular antibiotics.”

He recommends not walking too close to the edges of ponds, lakes or canals, especially after dark.

Rubay also said to be careful when walking your pets as it is a good target for the alligator.

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