Gator looking for new pair of gloves

[Pit Chick]

POMPANO BEACH - An alligator that was walking down the sidewalk in Pompano Beach bit a wildlife official in the hands, police said.

Residents of the 1400 block of Northwest 31st Avenue called the Broward Sheriff's Office when they saw an alligator walking down the street Monday evening.

BSO called in a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer. He found the alligator, which he said was 7 feet long, hiding under a car.

Officials said that while the FWC official was assessing the situation, the alligator bit him in both hands.

Police said a passer-by saw what was happening and wrestled the alligator until it was under control. The man said he had experience in wrestling alligators.

The official was taken to North Broward Medical Center, where he was given antibiotics, officials said. The alligator will be destroyed, officials added.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7551248/

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What was this FWC official assessing....the gators teeth?!? And why should the gator be destroyed because this guy was an idiot who apparently didn't know what he was doing?

[AbbyMom]

Well, I can tell you that if I'm ever bit by an alligator while I'm visiting my parents in Florida, I hope an experienced alligator wrestler happens to be passing by....

[luckies4me]

Originally posted by Pit Chick

What was this FWC official assessing....the gators teeth?!? And why should the gator be destroyed because this guy was an idiot who apparently didn't know what he was doing?

If they catch gators that are over a certain amount of feet they are to be euthanized. They didn't kill him for biting the man.

[Pit Chick]

Originally posted by luckies4me
If they catch gators that are over a certain amount of feet they are to be euthanized. They didn't kill him for biting the man.

That's stupid too. It was only 7 feet long. Since when was being a big gator a crime?

[luckies4me]

Originally posted by Pit Chick
That's stupid too. It was only 7 feet long. Since when was being a big gator a crime?

I don't think it's stupid at all. There are way too many gators and they are breeding rampantly. They need a way to control them, so once they pose a threat to the community after being a certain size they are euthanized. While it's our fault we merged into their territory to build homes the sad fact is, there is just way too many of them.

[Pit Chick]

Originally posted by luckies4me
While it's our fault we merged into their territory to build homes the sad fact is, there is just way too many of them.

Exactly, it's our fault. There's not too many gators, there's too many people. Looks like the gator was trying to implament his own population control with humans LOL. If they want to effectively control the gator population then they need to raid nests and take away the eggs, instead of killing a gator that's already alive. And I thought gators were a protected species?

[luckies4me]

Originally posted by Pit Chick
Exactly, it's our fault. There's not too many gators, there's too many people. Looks like the gator was trying to implament his own population control with humans LOL. If they want to effectively control the gator population then they need to raid nests and take away the eggs, instead of killing a gator that's already alive. And I thought gators were a protected species?

Hrmm, I never gave thought about the eggs. That's a good idea! I'm not sure if they are protected or not?

[wolfsoul]

I always wonder why they don't just put the animals in a zoo instead of destroying it. Not one of those "caged up" zoos...but a nice one, with lots of space. We have alot of cougars around here, and they always end up being killed because they come into people's yards and that poses a risk. I think they should just relocate them or put them in a spacious zoo.