Dayton Township, MI — A 59-year-old man was attacked by a lunging alligator in rural Tuscola County but escaped without injury.
Not exactly the predator that one expects in Michigan, where a bear or wolf would be less surprising, but authorities say that that what happened to the unidentified man who called police around 11:45 on Saturday, July 20th.
The man reported that he was out in the ditch gathering minnows to use as fishing bait for a fishing trip he had planned later in the day.
While bending over, he reported hearing an odd hissing sound and seconds later, the alligator lunged at him.
The man drew his pistol and shot the alligator one time, killing it.
The Tuscola County Sheriffs deputies saw that the alligator’s body slid back down the bank into the water.
They reported that it was between 5 and 6 feet long and weighed between 50 and 60 pounds.
Undersheriff Robert E. Baxter said that the alligator had escaped from a nearby exotic animal rescue shelter.
The alligators, along with all the other animals, were all in fenced enclosures, but the fence was no match for the alligator.
The 45-year-old owner did not know his gator had escaped until deputies showed up, Baxter said.
“He went, ‘I have three. Here’s one, here’s two, and . . . oops.’” Baxter paraphrased. It’s not known how the animal escaped, but it didn’t appear to have traveled too far.”
Arrangements were made for the man who killed the gator to keep its carcass, and it’s a good thing, too.
His friends would hardly believe the story, otherwise!
“Right, you didn’t catch any fish today because you were busy shooting alligators.
In Michigan. Sure . . .”
Another example of why we carry every day! Even if you’re just going fishing!
When you’re just going to get groceries or get gas. When you’re going jogging, when you’re puttering around doing home repairs.