A sign at Ridgecrest Park alerts park visitors to the presence of alligators, advising them to avoid feeding or bothering the reptiles. An alligator attacked a shih Tzu as the dog’s owner walked at the park on Ulmerton Road.
LARGO – A shih Tzu walking with its owner and another small dog was attacked by an alligator at Ridgecrest Park on June 25 at about 5:30 p.m.
The owner, Al Clark of Indian Rocks Beach, heard a noise and looked back to see the dog in the 8-foot alligator’s jaws as it swam to the middle of the lake, according to Pinellas County spokeswoman Maggie Hall.
The state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was notified of the incident and a local trapper has reportedly caught a 9-foot alligator at the park on Ulmerton Road.
Hall said that nuisance alligators usually are larger than 4 feet in length and pose a danger to people, property or pets.
Gary Morse, a spokesman for the wildlife commission said that this isn’t considered an emergency situation, but the state has classified the alligator as a nuisance.
“They tend to be more aggressive. They also tend to be less afraid of humans and will often times be the first animal to go after a bait trap,” said Morse. He recommends viewing an online brochure on alligators at myfwc.com/gators/faq/lwa.htm.
Jeanne Murphy, a county park naturalist warns people to be wary of alligators, which normally eat snakes, birds, fish, small animals and sometimes other alligators.
The reptile is an opportunistic killer, she said. Alligators can target small pets and children so it’s best to keep far away from the water’s edge, too.
Signs at all parks warn visitors about feeding or bothering alligators.
“You never feed them,” said Murphy, who also advises park visitors to stay at least 30 feet away from an alligator.
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