Posted on 04/24/2024 8:54:44 AM PDT by Twotone
A Florida man is being hailed as a hero after using his truck to run over an alligator that was dragging his neighbor into a pond in Collier County.
Walter Rudder said he was driving his truck when he saw his friend and neighbor, Rick Fingeret, being attacked by an alligator in his neighborhood in Naples.
“Driving, and we saw a man laying on the ground, waving his arms. We pulled over, and I got out of the car and saw that an alligator had him by the leg,” Rudder said. “It was dragging him into the pond.”
Rudder says his friend, who is 67 years old, begged him to run over the alligator in hopes that it would release his leg. The plan worked. Sign up for the Blaze newsletter By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content that may sometimes include advertisements. You may opt out at any time.
The alligator released the man and went back into the pond.
The recording of the call to 911 was obtained by the Naples Daily News. Fingeret can be heard on the recording say that there's "two big bites" in his thigh. A woman at the scene wrapped a shirt his thigh and then turned on her hazard lights to wait for emergency personnel to arrive. It took them about six minutes to get to Fingeret.
Fingeret was airlifted to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers to be treated for his injuries. He said that he had been walking his two Labrador dogs when he was attacked and that they never left his side throughout the entire ordeal.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had trappers relocate the alligator after capturing it. They measured it at 11 feet long.
Fingeret later told WINK-TV that he had hit the alligator on the head several times, but the animal only bit down harder.
“Alarming is what I would say,” Rudder said simply.
The commission used the incident to remind residents in Florida that alligator mating season runs from May until June and attacks are more likely during that time. They cautioned residents to stay away from bodies of water, keep their pets on leashes, and never approach alligators.
On average, there are about seven unprovoked alligator attacks on humans every year in Florida. Very few attacks lead to fatalities, and most victims are male.
“The alligator’s “protected;”
If your suggesting that alligators are a protected species that’s incorrect.....haven’t been since 1987.
This explains why the Florida panther is extremely endangered. I saw one at Sarasota National Golf Club about a decade ago. They aren’t very big cats and are no match for a sizable alligator..
That’s probably the last time I paid attention to it. Don’t you need a permit to fry them?
Bears are more protected that gators............
Give me just one location in the US that is not affected by natural disasters, insect plagues, wild animals, old people or bad drivers. I won’t hold my breath.
You need a permit to trap or kill an alligator in Florida. However in a situation like this I wouldn’t hesitate to kill one by any means necessary.....also, feeding them is against the law.
But do they have the clearance and traction to actually drive over the thing? I can always put my Silverado in 4WD and I'll have the necessary clearance and traction.
I wouldn’t either, but that doesn’t mean you won’t face an inquisition afterwards.
He should have used a Gator to run over the gator. That’s what they’re for.
Yes just ask the nearest illegal immigrant to refer you to his documents provider and ask for an alligator license.
For what?
Always be carrying. Always....
If you can hit it in the head with your hand, going psycho stabby with a knife would probably be more effective.
Pickup truck or not, Rule #9 should always be strictly observed.
No, they have no protection if they are attacking a human. None.
In Louisiana, state trappers don’t relocate gators over 6 ft. I am amazed that FL will take the risk of wrangling an 11-foot alligator. I have friends who’ve had 22 gators removed from the pond behind their house. Over 6 feet, they just shoot them.
I want to see the commercials.
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