Two alligator attacks happened on the same day, resulting in one hand lost and two lives risked. The attacks were in separate places in Florida, one being the Everglades, and the other just outside of Orlando on Sunday, March 10th.

At Flamingo Marina in the Everglades, a 68 year old man’s boat capsized, making him have to swim back to shore. Witnesses saw him get pulled under the water; however, the man was able to get to safety. With a cut on his leg, park rangers assisted him immediately, and he was sent to the hospital in stable condition.

Furthermore a Florida man was airlifted to the hospital after a gator, who is almost 9 feet long, bit off his hand. The gator had went back into the water, but a expert trapper had been called. Once found, the gator was cut open as they had hoped to save the hand.

There are an estimated 1.3 million alligators in Florida. These animals vary in size, but are known to pack a deadly punch. A gator typically “dead rolls” once they have their food, which is when they lock onto what they have and roll to throw the target off of its senses. It leaves its target defenseless, making it the perfect attack strategy. Gators inhabit most, if not all of Florida’s waters. You could see them in the springs, rivers, oceans, and even in someone’s backyard swimming pool.