A person died trying to find Frisbees in a lake at a disc golf course the place persons are warned by indicators to watch out for alligators, police in Florida stated Tuesday.
The unidentified man was in search of flying discs within the water and "a gator was concerned," the Largo Police Division stated in an e-mail Tuesday. Emergency crews say it occurred at John S. Taylor Park.
The person who died was 47 years outdated, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee stated in an e-mail. The fee stated a contracted specialist was working to take away an alligator from the lake "and efforts can be made to find out if it was concerned on this state of affairs."
The park's web site notes that patrons can "uncover the game of disc golf on a course set within the pure great thing about this park." The course is ready alongside the lake, which has no-swimming indicators posted alongside it.
Individuals who frequent the disc course stated it is commonplace for somebody to search for misplaced discs that may be bought for a number of dollars.
"These are individuals which might be down on their luck," Ken Hostnick, 56, informed the Tampa Bay Instances. "Generally they dive within the lakes, they will pull out 40 discs. You could promote them for 5 bucks a bit, and chances are you'll promote them for 10 bucks a bit, relying on the standard."
Now, police are telling individuals to keep away from the lake whereas the investigation continues.
Alligators are discovered nearly in all places in Florida the place there's any sort of water. The wildlife fee says there have been no deadly alligator assaults in Florida since 2019, though individuals and animals have been bitten from every so often.
In June 2020, a person was bitten within the face by an alligator whereas in waist-deep water in Taylor Lake close to the disc golf course, WTSP reported. He acquired extreme cuts to his hand and face, FWC officers stated on the time.
Wildlife officers stress that nobody ought to method a wild alligator or feed them, as a result of the reptiles then affiliate individuals with meals. This may be extra problematic in populated areas comparable to condominium complexes the place individuals stroll canine and have young children.
WTSP studies that some incidents have occurred throughout the alligator mating season, which runs from late spring via early summer time -- when the animals are their most energetic.
Alligators had been as soon as thought-about endangered animals in Florida however have since flourished and may be discovered nearly anyplace within the state. They feed primarily on fish, turtles, snakes, and small mammals. Nevertheless, they're often known as opportunistic predators that can eat absolutely anything that comes their manner, together with carrion and pets. Alligators don't have any pure enemies within the wild.