Trapper still searching for alligator that attacked man in south Fort Myers

A trapper is still searching for an alligator nearby a busy park after a man was attacked by it.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has one of its contracted, nuisance alligator trappers still searching for an alligator in the area of Wa-Ke Hatchee Park in south Fort Myers Tuesday.

This comes after 60-year-old William Simmons of Fort Myers was seriously injured during an encounter with the alligator nearby the park Monday.

The area where the attack happened is secluded and away from the park’s walking path. There are gator warning signs posted there, but they were hundreds of feet away from the site of the attack.

“Be aware of your surroundings, and know that they are there, and know that you are kind of in their territory,” Carl Mumford said. “So you just have to keep your eyes open, and know that it’s possible that you might run into one.”

In most cases, a nuisance alligator will be euthanized and sold for its meat, but sometimes, they can be taken to live on a gator farm.