12-foot alligator killed in Blue Spring State Park after swimmer found dead

[Baitball Blogger]

A man's routine swim turned deadly Monday at Blue Spring State Park, where wildlife officers later found and shot a 12-foot alligator.

James Okkerse, 61, was found floating face down near the shore of the swimming area, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. A friend had reported Okkerse missing after he hadn't returned for about 15 minutes.

Now FWC is investigating whether the alligator might have played a role in Okkerse's death, said FWC spokesman Lenny Salberg. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, he said.

"We won't know until the autopsy comes in," Salberg said, noting the DeBary man was not missing any limbs. He said he could not tell whether the man suffered bite marks.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-dead-swimmer-alligator-blue-spring-20151019-story.html

[Kalidurga]

1. So can't tell if there are bite marks no limbs missing

yeeeeeeeeeeeee ha let's kill the gator.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

3. A 12 foot gator near the swimming area.

That's spring water and it is very cold. Alligators aren't likely to be in water that cold unless, sadly, humans have been feeding him. Once they get used to humans as a food source, they become far too dangerous. It's awful and there are signs everywhere regarding this.

[Kalidurga]

4. that is terrible

why would people feed alligators. That is as stupid as feeding bears. Which also become dangerous once they are no longer afraid of humans and see them as treat dispensers. I was thinking along the lines the gator could have been captured and released if it wasn't the culprit. And that the guy was in his early 60's that it was just as likely he died of a heart attack, but it could have been a 12 foot gator induced heart attack.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

5. It's exactly the same as feeding bears

Fish and wildlife told me that can't relocate a gator that has gotten accustomed to people, that it's too dangerous. It's against the law to feed them, too.

[Kalidurga]

7. Thank you I learned a lot from this

I would never feed a gator mind you, I would never feed anything in the wild that is potentially dangerous. I would even hesitate to feed non dangerous birds and squirrels because they can get dependent on humans feeding them and become less able to feed themselves. It's just not a good idea you don't know what foods are good for them and what could be lethal.

I had no idea that feeding gators was a thing or that you can't relocate them like bears can be. I watched a doc on relocating polar bears that have become less afraid of humans and try to get into people's houses. The town in the doc is in Nova Scotia I think and up in the Northern part, iirc this activity is tied to the ice cap melting.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

10. From the Florida fish and wildlife commission

Why does the FWC not relocate nuisance alligators in Florida?
Florida has a healthy and stable alligator population. We have about 1.3 million alligators in Florida. Alligators live in all 67 counties, and they inhabit all wild areas of Florida that can support them. The removal of nuisance alligators does not have a significant impact on our state's alligator population.

Relocated alligators often try to return to their capture site. They can create problems for people or other alligators along the way. If an alligator successfully returns, capturing it again would be necessary and likely more difficult the second time.

To avoid creating a problem at the release site, nuisance alligators would need to be relocated to remote areas where they would not encounter people. These remote areas already have healthy alligator populations, and the ones that already live there have established social structures. The introduction of a new alligator to these areas would likely cause fighting, possibly resulting in the death of a resident alligator or the introduced alligator.

[Tipperary]

6. I know, right?

That is a damn shame.

[Kalidurga]

8. Yes

I am still a bit sad about it, but I gather that they can't relocate. Now I think it's worse. People gotta stop feeding the gators.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

2. It doesn't sound like the alligator got him.

Beautiful place. We camp there a lot in the winter to see the manatees.

[irisblue]

9. I went swimming there my first trip to Fla

A pretty area, and I'm sorry this happened.

[Omaha Steve]

11. Couldn't just drug and remove to a safe area?

poor GATOR

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

12. See above reply

I live with this problem. We have a large retaining pond where I work. When we have heavy rains we almost yearly get a little 2 footer who swims in from a nearby swamp. He wouldn't even stay for long, except, despite the signs, despite the warnings, despite the threats of arrest from fish and wildlife, our employees can't resist feeding them. Then the poor gator starts coming up on the bank by the picnic tables and into the parking lot looking for tasty leftovers, and once again, I have to call Fish and Wildlife. It's awful and I get angry about it every year. They took out an 8 foot long one last year that had to be destroyed.