Body found guarded by alligator in canal

LAKELAND — An unidentified man was found dead Saturday in a Lakeland canal, a 7-foot female alligator guarding his body.

The armless body was spotted by two fisherman early Saturday. They called authorities. When Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation officers arrived, the gator wouldn't leave the body.

Officers shot it, cut open its stomach and found evidence that the alligator had been feeding on the body. They were hoping to find the man's arms, which might help to identify him through fingerprints.

But the gator hadn't ingested them, said Carrie Rodgers, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office. "That doesn't mean another gator didn't do it," she added.

Deputies don't suspect foul play, but they won't know exactly how he died until an autopsy is performed today.

"Whether the alligator killed him and stashed him until it was time to eat or whether he fell out of a boat or had a heart attack we don't know," said wildlife commission spokesman Gary Morse.

The summer months are the most dangerous time for Floridians who share a habitat with alligators. Because they're cold-blooded reptiles, gators become more active when temperatures heat up.

As their metabolisms speed up, they mate, move around and feed more often. Still, deaths by alligators are relatively uncommon in Florida. In about 60 years of tracking bites, the wildlife commission has recorded 22 deaths. The most fatal attacks in a single year is three.

Last year's only death was that of Justo Antonio Padron, 36, who was killed as he swam across a pond at the Miccosukee Indian Reservation in west Miami. Witnesses saw him disappear in the water as he tried to elude police.

Morse said it's hard to see a pattern in deadly encounters. But an increasing number of people living near the water has led to a rise in complaints about alligators, according to the wildlife commission.

"The trend is this: We have more people and more alligators coming into contact," Morse said.

>>FAST FACTS

Safety in the swamp

• Stay alert around fresh and brackish water bodies, especially between dusk and dawn.

• Never feed alligators or other animals near water where alligators live.

• Keep children and pets under close supervision

• If you encounter an alligator more than 4 feet long that's threatening people, pets or property, call toll-free 1-866-392-4286 for a nuisance trapper.

Comments on this article

by gianna	May 20, 2008 4:31 PM
Kill the gators do you want your kids to get bittin I dont think so

by Gary	May 20, 2008 4:21 PM
The yankees that think Florida is better off w/o gators are the same ones that straightened the Kissimmee, drained our wetlands and build condos on our beautiful beaches. Florida would be better of w/o so many dumba$$ yankees.

by lia	May 20, 2008 4:21 PM
all you morons keep your new york comments out of this tragedy. grow up

by John	May 19, 2008 5:30 PM
Florida would be just fine without New Yorkers! Leave the gators alone!!!

by wilbur	May 19, 2008 2:05 PM
Any retard who swims in fresh water in Florida deserves to be eaten. Idiots. ...Like morons who jump into a school of jumping mullet in the intracoastal waterway deserve to be eaten by sharks.

by Kevin	May 19, 2008 1:35 PM
Florida would be just fine without people thinking that the gators need to go....they'll be here long after we're gone. DUH!!

by gator	May 19, 2008 1:32 PM
peolpe come on leave the newyorkers alone they dont know about gators they only know about rats big gatorsize rats i think noone has the right to take anyone or anythings life we all have the right to live here just watch where you swim

by DR	May 19, 2008 1:31 PM
Gators don't attack people. They protect themselves and take advantage of idiots in their territory. Don't kill the gator for being a gator.

by SP	May 19, 2008 1:30 PM
No, things would not be "just fine" w/o gators. This was evidenced when sharks were killed in high numbers. It messes up the ecosystem. They live there. They were there before us. Leave them alone, they leave you alone.

by Ted	May 19, 2008 1:22 PM
To Frank. If you read the story, you would see why the gator was shot. To try an attempt to identify the reamins. Hope you never go missing in the swamp.

by Frank	May 19, 2008 1:17 PM
We need to feed New Yorkers to the gators.

by Tom	May 19, 2008 10:56 AM
It's simple. Swimming pools and the ocean are for people. Lakes and ponds are for gators. The gator here was just guarding it's meal. Apparently it didn't kill the guy. IF they knew that they should have driven the gator off. IF not, they did right.

by Frank	May 19, 2008 10:56 AM
I don't agree with the bone head that killed the gator; in fact... they should be charge criminally (even if they were law enforcement) . The death (post event) of an individual due to an encounter, shouldn't be blank check for anyone to kill gators.

by Mike	May 19, 2008 10:56 AM
They kill it because thats what the cops do when they feel threaten. I grew up on the withlacochee river and have swam and boated next alagators with no problem. If you leave them alone they will leave you alone. People from up north dont get it.

by Bill	May 19, 2008 10:56 AM
I really don't care who got here first. I am a human being, and care first for humans. I think the environment would get on just fine without alligators.

by Glenn	May 19, 2008 10:56 AM
Gat-or-done!

by Brent	May 19, 2008 10:56 AM
I am Glad they killed the Gator, Now it wont eat another Human. Tim and Nick you need to get Priorities straight. My thoughts and prayers go this mans family...

by charlie	May 19, 2008 10:55 AM
Stay out of the water. The gators own the lakes. They were here first. grrrr

by Solomon	May 19, 2008 10:55 AM
Invite McCain down to live along the canal? Encourage him to swim w/ the 'gators' to win votes of fisher-persons in hopes of beating Hillary-'cause Obama is unbeatable- 1/2 victor better than no-victory no?

by aldo	May 19, 2008 10:55 AM
well if the gators are eating the bad guys i say leave em alone,,,the big prob is kids they wont leave em alone,,till one gets eaten,,of course then the gator has to die,,,they are wild and will run very fast,,fast fast,

by Mike	May 19, 2008 10:55 AM
Tim is right. I am a transplant to FL, but the beauty is in the way things are, not in my personal invasion. Condolences to the family.

by Naomi	May 19, 2008 10:55 AM
I agree with Tim, the gators were here first and we are invading their rightful home.As humans we think that we own everything,we think that we own the gators habitat so we think that we should swim in it and think that nothing will happen.

by steve	May 19, 2008 10:55 AM
spot on Tim. Tourists friom New York Move here and love the weather but they want itto be like New York. No Gators munching on thier poodles. Do us all a favor and move back up north

by donald	May 19, 2008 10:55 AM
the world is really in caos .. whats next?

by Marie	May 19, 2008 10:54 AM
Leave the gators alone!

by Naomi	May 19, 2008 9:42 AM
I agree with Tim, the gators were here first and we are invading their rightful home.As humans we think that we own everything,we think that we own the gators habitat so we think that we should swim in it and think that nothing will happen.

by Tim	May 18, 2008 1:45 PM
Leave the Alligators alone. The ones thta are complaining about these Gators are people from up north. You move to Florida and you live with Alligators. This was there home first. You have to be an idiot if you swim in a lake with Gators.

by Nick	May 18, 2008 1:45 PM
Why kill the gator?