Current:Home > NewsCrocodile attacks man in Everglades on same day alligator bites off hand near Orlando -Thrive Capital Insights
Crocodile attacks man in Everglades on same day alligator bites off hand near Orlando
View
Date:2025-04-14 22:05:38
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! (17)
Related
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- Spotify streams of Michigan fight song 'The Victors' spike with Wolverines' national championship
- Spotify streams of Michigan fight song 'The Victors' spike with Wolverines' national championship
- Blizzard knocks out power and closes highways and ski resorts in Oregon and Washington
- The 'Rebel Ridge' trailer is here: Get an exclusive first look at Netflix movie
- Investigative hearings set to open into cargo ship fire that killed 2 New Jersey firefighters
- Barry Keoghan reveals he battled flesh-eating disease: 'I'm not gonna die, right?'
- Key moments in the arguments over Donald Trump’s immunity claims in his election interference case
- $1 Frostys: Wendy's celebrates end of summer with sweet deal
- Researchers find a massive number of plastic particles in bottled water
Ranking
- North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
- Maryland lawmakers to wrestle with budgeting, public safety, housing as session opens
- For consumers shopping for an EV, new rules mean fewer models qualify for a tax credit
- What to know about the blowout on a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet and why most of the planes are grounded
- The seven biggest college football quarterback competitions include Michigan, Ohio State
- Armed man fatally shot by police in Baltimore suburb, officials say
- Energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar are popular. Which has the most caffeine?
- Spotify streams of Michigan fight song 'The Victors' spike with Wolverines' national championship
Recommendation
DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
With threats, pressure and financial lures, China seen as aiming to influence Taiwan’s elections
SEC chair denies a bitcoin ETF has been approved, says account on X was hacked
Former UK opposition leader Corbyn to join South Africa’s delegation accusing Israel of genocide
The seven biggest college football quarterback competitions include Michigan, Ohio State
Hundreds of UK postal workers wrongly accused of fraud will have their convictions overturned
Georgia passes Michigan, Alabama in early 2025 CFP National Championship odds
Video appears to show the Israeli army shot 3 Palestinians, killing 1, without provocation