ANNA MARIA – An injured alligator came ashore near the Rod & Reel Pier on Oct. 8. After being trapped and removed, the gator was later euthanized due to its broken leg.
Dep. Patrick Manning of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Anna Maria Unit was among those to respond that day.
“We received a call about an alligator on the beach,” Manning told The Sun. “The day prior, we received a call from some construction crews in the area of the 800 block of North Shore Drive and they said they saw it. Three deputies, including myself, went up there but we could not locate it that day.
“The next day, a beachgoer called and said they saw it. I wasn’t shocked that it had come ashore, but it was kind of a shock to see it up on the rocks. The tide was very high, so I wasn’t concerned about people walking up to it at that time,” Manning said.
Through the county dispatcher, Manning reached out to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and provided the state agency with photos and video of the gator in its current location.
“Initially, they weren’t receptive to retrieving the reptile until I explained to them that when the tide goes out it’s near a beach access and a lot of people walk from Bean Point to the Rod & Reel to use the restroom or grab a beverage,” Manning said.
Manning said an FWC-contracted trapper showed up within 20-25 minutes and made quick work of capturing the injured gator.
“He said the reptile had a broken leg and he was going to take it to a facility where it could be rehabbed and released. The sheriff’s office doesn’t simply decide to pull out a gun and eliminate a native species of Florida. You try to find a way to get it to where it belongs,” Manning said, noting the gator may have been displaced from its freshwater habitat during Hurricane Ian.
Afterwards, the trapper changed his mind.
“Upon removing the 7-foot 9-inch alligator, the contracted nuisance alligator trapper realized it was injured and euthanized it,” said Tammy Sapp, of the FWC communications team.
“Maybe it was in saltwater for too long and was in worse shape and they couldn’t rehab it,” Manning said.
“While the American alligator prefers freshwater lakes and slow-moving rivers and their associated wetlands, they are seen in brackish water habitats occasionally. Alligators can swim in and tolerate saltwater for short periods of time, but it is not their preferred habitat,” Sapp said.
“Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida. FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP). The goal of SNAP is to proactively address alligator threats in developed areas, while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur.
“SNAP uses contracted nuisance alligator trappers throughout the state to remove alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property. People with concerns about an alligator should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286), and we will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation. FWC also works to keep Floridians and visitors informed, including providing advice about living with alligators,” Sapp said.
