Recent Gator Attack samples. You know the little ponds behing your apt complex?? How about that lake you like to swim in? Well, Gators are protected in FL, kill one and you might have to do time in prison (even in self defense).
Because of urban sprawl, overcrowding, and real greed from builders, the gators have nowhere to go these days. Back in 1999, I saw a gator near I-4 west, past of Haines City, FL!! He was just hang out, walking along the street....
So because humans are stealing their space and habitat,the gators are coming to a neighborhood near you! 
Here are a few recorded gator attacks in the past few years. Keep in mind, this is a SAMPLE of all the people attacked/eaten!
# Sanibel, Florida - September 11th 2001, 82 year old Robert Steele was attacked and killed while walking his dog on a trail between two wetland areas in the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. FWC officers later killed a 10'9" and 6' alligator.
# Lake County, Florida - June 18th 2003, 12 year old Brian Griffin was attacked while swimming near a boat ramp on the Dead River. The alligator was 10'4" long 339 pounds and was subsequently destroyed along with several other large gators.
# Sanibel Island, Florida - June 2004, 54 year old Janie Melsek was attacked and killed by a 12 foot long, 457 pound alligator, while working on landscaping.
# Lee County, Florida - 20 year old Michelle Reeves was killed by a 7'11" male alligator when she went swimming after midnight in a retention pond at Lee Memorial Health Park
# Lakeland, Florida - March 15th 2005, fishermen discovered the body of 56 year old Don Owen about 12 miles from his home, he had been missing since March 9th. Trappers later caught an 8'9" 300 pound alligator that had Mr. Owens forearm in it's stomach. It was later determined that the alligator had been fed by area residents which is illegal.
# Port Charlotte, Florida - July 15 2005, Kevin Albert Murray, 41, was swimming in the Apollo Waterway when a 12-foot alligator attacked and killed him.
# Sunrise Florida - May 10, 2006 Yovy Suarez Jimenez, 28, went out for an evening jog and was last seen dangling her feet over the water of a canal near her home. Her partially consumed body was found in the canal the following morning.
Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads. 
From Titusville to Cocoa, FL on I-95 May 1st, '06
Gator attacks
Say nice things about Detroit
Linear Mode
