Giant Alligator Removed from Florida Yard Weeks After Fatal Attack
A 11-foot alligator stalked a Florida couple before being relocated, weeks after a fisherman was killed by a similar predator nearby.
A massive 11-foot alligator was removed from the backyard of a Florida homeowner after it had been stalking him and his wife for weeks. The incident occurred near Lake Apopka, not far from the site where a 71-year-old fisherman was killed by an alligator earlier this month.
Randy Forbes and his wife had grown accustomed to seeing alligators on their property. However, an 11-foot alligator began following them around their yard and dock, causing them to feel increasingly uncomfortable. "He would just follow us up and down the dock, and it got to the point where I was just not comfortable at all," Forbes told WESH 2.
After an unsuccessful attempt to deter the alligator himself, Forbes contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Wildlife officials responded and removed two alligators from the lake near Forbes's residence. The first measured 8 feet 10 inches, and the second, believed to be the nuisance animal, was the 11-foot 1-inch specimen.
The two alligators were captured and subsequently relocated approximately 40 miles away to Gatorland, a theme park in Orlando. A video shared by Forbes showed workers using ropes to secure the large alligator before dragging it across the ground.
Forbes has since become more cautious, particularly when mowing his lawn, ensuring he trims the grass all the way to the water's edge. "It is Mother Nature. You have to be aware of your surroundings, pay attention, and know that any body of water in Florida can potentially hold an alligator that can do some damage," he stated.
The incident with Forbes's property follows the fatal attack on fisherman Steve Hamilton, 71, on the shoreline of Dr. Bradford Memorial Park, a pond connected to Lake Apopka. Hamilton was reportedly posing for a photograph with a bass he had caught when a 12-foot alligator pounced, grabbing him by the leg and dragging him into the water.
First responders arriving at the scene discovered over a dozen alligators. First responders reported difficulty in removing Hamilton's body from the water due to the presence of the animals. The 12-foot alligator involved in the attack was trapped and killed by authorities.
Hamilton, a seasoned fisherman from Winter Garden and a musician in the Orlando area, died at the scene from his injuries.
