{"id":459,"date":"2018-07-11T16:56:12","date_gmt":"2018-07-11T16:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulfcoastreadiness.com\/?p=459"},"modified":"2018-07-11T16:57:33","modified_gmt":"2018-07-11T16:57:33","slug":"alligator-attacks-on-humans-are-rare-but-can-be-deady","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulfcoastreadiness.com\/alligator-attacks-on-humans-are-rare-but-can-be-deady\/","title":{"rendered":"Alligator Attacks on Humans Are Rare but Can Be Deady"},"content":{"rendered":"

By David E. Hubler
\n<\/strong>Contributor, EDM Digest<\/em><\/p>\n

Every spring and summer we see news accounts of people bitten by alligators. Last July, for example, a tourist in Mexico was attacked by an alligator when he waded into a lagoon in the resort area of Cancun.<\/p>\n

After a struggle with the animal, Cal Monzon managed to get away and was found by a security guard who heard his screams. But he had lost one arm up to the elbow,\u00a0Newsweek<\/a>\u00a0reported.<\/p>\n

In May 2016, when police in Lakeland, Florida, were searching for a 21-year-old on the run, \u201cthey discovered him lying on the ground missing about three-quarters of his left arm,\u201d according to\u00a0KRON News 4<\/a>. Jessie Scott Kingsinger had jumped into a lake and encountered an alligator in his attempt to swim away.<\/p>\n

One excellent \u2013 though not full-proof \u2013 way to avoid an alligator attack is to stay out of lagoons and lakes, especially in tropical areas. But gators often are seen on land too, and if provoked, can move very fast to attack.<\/p>\n

Rarely Will an Alligator Come Out of the Water to Attack a Human<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s rare that an alligator will come out of the water and go after a human being,\u201d Ron Magill, a wildlife expert and communications director at Zoo Miami, told ABC\u2019s\u00a0Good Morning America<\/a>. \u201cThey usually nest close to the water. If you get near a nest, a female will come after you. Females are very protective.\u201d<\/p>\n

There Are More than One Million Alligators in Florida Alone<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Florida has more than a million gators, but only a dozen or so bites are recorded each year, according to the\u00a0Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission<\/a>\u00a0(FWC).<\/p>\n

\u201cIn recent years, Florida has experienced tremendous human population growth. Many residents seek waterfront homes, and increasingly participate in water-related activities. This can result in more frequent alligator-human interactions, and a greater potential for conflict,\u201d the FWC warns.<\/p>\n

What can you do to prevent an alligator attack? Wildlife experts offer these four tips:<\/p>\n

1. Run as Fast as You Can<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you happen to lock eyes with an alligator on land, forget the popular but erroneous escape method of running in a zigzag. Run away as fast as you can in a straight line. Alligators will typically chase a human only to defend their territory. \u201cThe longer you stay within their territory, the longer they\u2019re going to chase you,\u201d Frank Mazziotti, a professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Florida\u2019s Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, told\u00a0ABC News<\/a>. \u201cWhen you run back and forth, you are in fact exposing yourself to attack for a longer period of time than if you just ran in a straight direction and got out of there. Once you\u2019re no longer a threat, it has no interest in you.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Fight Back Hard<\/strong><\/p>\n

If a gator grabs hold of you, there are a few things you can do. Most important, don\u2019t give up.<\/p>\n

\u201cFight like hell. Don\u2019t go willingly,\u201d Mazziotti said. \u201cThe bigger fight you put up, the more likely it\u2019s going to let you go and say, \u2018This isn\u2019t worth it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Smack the Alligator\u2019s Snout<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rather than try to open a gator\u2019s extremely powerful jaws, aim for where the animal is most vulnerable. \u201cPop them on the snout. The tip of their snout is very sensitive. That might be able to get them to release you,\u201d Magill said.<\/p>\n

4. Gouge the Creature\u2019s Eyes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jabbing a gator in the eyes may also make it release its bite, even for just a moment, allowing you to get away before it pulls you underwater. \u201cThe thing you want to stop them from doing is turning. They\u2019ll grab, and they\u2019ll start rolling to try to break off pieces to eat, and that\u2019s the key thing,\u201d Magill said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to hold on as hard as you can. And the other is to try to poke your fingers in their eyes. That\u2019s easier said than done in that situation, of course, but that\u2019s the best chance you have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even if you get away with only flesh wounds, you need to get them treated immediately at a hospital or other medical facility.<\/p>\n

According to a\u00a0recent study by Australian scientists<\/a>, a bite from a crocodile (or alligator) can lead to serious infections. Bacteria can enter the body via the deep cuts from a crocodile\u2019s teeth or from wounds occurring when people try to escape.<\/p>\n

The study said surgery is essential to prevent new or worsening infection after any bite so surgeons can remove already-infected tissue and help flush out any bacteria hiding in the wounds. \u201cBacteria living in crocodiles\u2019 mouths can come from the intestines of other animals they eat or from the water in which they live.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen people are trying to escape a crocodile attack, bacteria living in the soil and mud also pose a risk. And bacteria commonly living on our skin without causing problems can cause infection when the skin\u2019s protective barrier is lost.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf untreated, bacteria can cause severe wound infections. Without treating these infections properly, the victim\u2019s tissues die and their arms and legs may need to be amputated. Infection can also enter the bloodstream and spread to the rest of the body causing multiple organ failure and death.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By David E. Hubler Contributor, EDM Digest Every spring and summer we see news accounts of people bitten by alligators. Last July, for example, a tourist in Mexico was attacked by an alligator when he waded into a lagoon in the resort area of Cancun. After a struggle with the animal, Cal Monzon managed to<\/p>\n

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