How to avoid an alligator attack
Alligator expert offers advice on alligator safety
A family vacation turned into a nightmare on Tuesday when a 2-year-old boy was snatched by an alligator as the youngster was wading in a foot of water. The tragedy took place in the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian Hotel in Orlando, Florida.
Nick Wiley, executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told USA Today that about a dozen alligator bites occur in the state annually, but fatalities are rare. About 23 deaths have been caused by alligator attacks in Florida since the 1940s, he said.
In Mississippi, alligator attacks on humans are far less common. In fact, not one has ever been documented and Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Alligator Program coordinator Ricky Flynt offers advice on how to keep it that way.
"There have been some cases of people getting bitten in the state, but all those cases were someone trying to handle or move an alligator," Flynt said. "There's never been a reported attack, period."
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Even so, alligators can grow to weights in excess of 1,000 pounds and deserve respect to avoid tragedy.
"Alligators are apex predators and they are wild animals," Flynt said. "They certainly can perceive pets, livestock or humans as prey.
"The only time we have a situation of serious concern is when someone has been feeding an alligator. They begin to lose their fear of humans and associate them with a source of food. It's illegal to feed alligators in Mississippi. It's a very dangerous situation."
In short, don't feed alligators. Also, avoid situations where you may be perceived as prey.
"More times than not, the other scenario is when someone is swimming at night where alligators are known to inhabit," Flynt said. "Alligators are largely nocturnal. People swimming at night can be mistaken for prey."
Flynt's most basic advice? Give alligators space.
"You simply keep your distance and let others know if there is a large alligator in the area," Flynt said. "The vast majority are not going to be a problem. Enjoy them from a distance."
Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com. Follow The Clarion-Ledger Outdoors on Facebook and @BrianBroom on Twitter.