American Alligator Mortality's Boletim

Gator weighing more than 450 pounds survives collision with semi-truck in Florida, later euthanized
By: WFTS StaffPosted at 12:31 PM, Jun 20, 2019
https://www.wxyz.com/news/national/gator-weighing-more-than-450-pounds-survives-collision-with-semi-truck-in-florida-later-euthanized

(Photo courtesy of Vaughan Gators, LLC)

An alligator weighing more than 450 pounds was hit by a semi-truck on an interstate in north Florida earlier this month. The alligator was struck just after midnight on June 3 on I-10. A semi truck reportedly hit the alligator, and the gator survived.

Broderick Vaughan of Vaughan Gators, LLC responded to the scene. He tells said the gator was more than 12 feet long and weighed 463 pounds.Vaughan says it's one of the largest gators he has ever corralled. He says the gator had to be euthanized, because by law nuisance gators bigger than four feet cannot be released.

This story was originally published by WFTS in Tampa, Florida.

For many years now, our first gesture upon arriving in the Okefenokee Swamp is to say ‘hello’ to “Sophie”, the resident alligator that inhabits the boat bay at the Stephen C Foster campground. But in 2021, our joy at seeing her quickly turned to sadness, and a bit of outrage. Sophie had suffered a horrible injury.

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 71332185

No doubt, a boater failed to pull in their gear before entering the small bay. A large hook, with a length of line still attached, had penetrated Sophie’s eye and caused considerable damage.

I have nothing against fishing, but poor practices and lazily discarded tackle can cause serious problems for wildlife. Waterfowl are often entangled in lines causing lacerations, feather damage and death. Turtles often swallow hooks or get them caught in their beaks. Hooks left in released fish can be ingested by other wildlife causing internal bleeding.

To be sure that other alligators don’t suffer like “Sophie”, be sure to clean up all hooks, lures and line. ​For more information and tips, see https://www.wildlifecenter.org/fishing-tackle-threats-wildlife