| Alligators are one of the few nonvenomous reptiles | | | | Additionally, retrieving golf balls composes about 10% |
| that can cause serious or fatal injuries in humans. As | | | | of violent confrontations. Walking, running, and |
| the modern sprawl of suburbia and commercialization | | | | gardening near water banks is another location of |
| spreads to previously untouched areas, the amount | | | | attacks, with about 7% of assaults caused by this |
| of contact between alligators and humans will | | | | sort of activity. |
| continue to increase. From 1948 to 2004, an | | | | In general, the alligator is not an aggressive animal |
| estimated 376 injuries have occurred due to alligators. | | | | towards people. However, certain conditions can |
| Since the 1970's, at least 25 deaths have happened, | | | | cause alligators to be more violent. Females guarding |
| with more and more deaths taking place each | | | | nests and food-habituated alligators can be very |
| decade. | | | | dangerous to people. Additionally, people intruding on |
| Two species of alligators are native to the United | | | | the home territory of the animal, such as retrieving a |
| States. The American alligator is the more common | | | | lost golf ball, are at risk for a violent interaction. |
| of the two types and is native only to the southern | | | | Golf course attacks occur frequently in Florida |
| tip of Florida. The reptiles can also be found in | | | | because of the prevalence of American alligators. A |
| Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, | | | | man was recently attacked by a 10 feet, 11 inches |
| Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas. Occasional | | | | specimen at the Lake Venice Golf Club while trying to |
| sightings occur in other states, although the northern | | | | locate his ball in a pond at the sixth hole. Although a |
| range is limited by the cold temperatures. | | | | sign was placed nearby that said "Beware of |
| Several types of activities are commonly the source | | | | Alligator," the man reached into the pond to rescue |
| of interactions resulting in gator attacks on humans. | | | | his ball. A one-eyed alligator latched onto his forearm |
| Attempting to capture the animal constitutes 17.4% | | | | and dragged the man into the water. Luckily, another |
| of attacks. Swimming and fishing related attacks are | | | | man was nearby and able to assist in beating off the |
| also common intersections of reptile and man. | | | | gator. |