Current:Home > MyCrocodile attacks man in Everglades on same day alligator bites off hand near Orlando -Streamline Finance
Crocodile attacks man in Everglades on same day alligator bites off hand near Orlando
View
Date:2025-04-18 06:50:45
A man was injured after being in a rare crocodile attack in the Everglades National Park in Florida on the same day as another man lost his hand in an alligator attack outside Orlando.
A 68-year-old man capsized his boat and was swimming to shore at the Flamingo Marina in the Everglades when witnesses saw him go under water on Sunday, the National Park Service said in a Monday news release.
The man was able to get to safety, and park rangers immediately treated him for a cut on his leg. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition, the park service said.
“Rangers and park biologists are continuing to investigate the incident and monitor the suspected crocodile, which is easily identifiable,” the agency said.
Watch:9-foot crocodile closes Florida beach to swimmers in 'very scary' sighting
Are there crocodiles in Florida?
Yes! Florida is the only place in the U.S. that American crocodiles live in the wild, according to the wildlife commission.
They are considered a conservation success story, as the population has grown to about 2,000 since 1975, when there were only a few hundred living adults. It is still considered a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The crocodile tends to be shy and stick to brackish or salt water, one of its main differences with alligators, which live in fresh water. Crocodiles also tend to be greyish green with pointed snouts, while alligators tend to be black with rounded snouts, according to SeaWorld.
There are approximately 1.3 million alligators in Florida.
Florida man lost his hand in alligator attack
A man was airlifted to the hospital after a roughly 9-foot alligator bit off his hand while fishing in a retirement community outside of Orlando on Sunday.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had not released the man's identity as of Monday, but a neighbor told the Daily Commercial, part of the USA TODAY Network, what she saw.
Sally Priest said she saw the man's arm in the alligator’s mouth and that the creature was rolling on the bank.
Experts call it a “death roll.”
Alligator attack:Creature bites off man's hand in Leesburg retirement community
Rescuers cut open gator to try to save detached hand
“I knew he was in trouble so I ran to call 911,” Priest said.
The alligator stopped its attack and went back into the water. A large crowd gathered to help the injured man.
His hand and part of his arm had been bitten off, she said.
A licensed trapper was called, who captured and killed the alligator. The gator was cut open so the victim's hand could be retrieved, but one of the rescue workers speculated that it could not be reattached.
“I feel so bad for the man,” Priest said.
veryGood! (5432)
Related
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- 4 children lost in Colombian jungle found alive after being missing for 40 days
- A Harry Potter TV Series Is Reportedly Coming: All the Magical Details
- The White House Wants To Fight Climate Change And Help People. Cleveland Led The Way
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson quits politics after being sanctioned for misleading Parliament
- Jamie Lee Curtis' Tribute to Daughter Ruby Is Everything on Transgender Day of Visibility
- Jamie Lee Curtis' Tribute to Daughter Ruby Is Everything on Transgender Day of Visibility
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- The Drought In The Western U.S. Is Getting Bad. Climate Change Is Making It Worse
Ranking
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Woman in disguise tried to kill ex's wife with knife hidden in bouquet of flowers, U.K. police say
- Pope Francis surgery completed without complications, pontiff working from hospital during recovery
- These Barbie Movie Easter Eggs Reveal Surprising Wizard of Oz Connection
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Tom Brady's Latest Outing With His and Gisele Bündchen's Kids Is a Work of Art
- Elle Fanning Confirms Breakup With Max Minghella
- Former head of U.K. police watchdog group charged with raping a minor
Recommendation
Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
How a Hot Glue Gun Became TikTok's Most In-Demand Makeup Tool
The White House Is Seeking To Soothe Worries That It's Pushing Climate Plans Aside
Lamar Odom Invests in Addiction Treatment Centers After His Own Health Journey
Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
See the first-of-its-kind seat that will make airplanes more accessible for travelers with wheelchairs
New York City hits moderate air quality for first time in days – but the situation could be a long-duration event
In A Landmark Case, A Dutch Court Orders Shell To Cut Its Carbon Emissions Faster