Gator Bites A Gator Baiter -- by John Chambliss, The Ledger

DUNDEE -- Michael Elinor told wildlife officials he imitated the Crocodile Hunter when he tried to wrestle a 7-foot-long alligator Saturday night. Elinor, 33, didn't fare quite as well as Steve Irwin, the hyperactive Australian television star. When Elinor threw a blanket over the reptile's head and sat on its back, the 150- to 200-pound alligator grabbed his left arm with its teeth, peeling away the flesh between his elbow and wrist, said Gary Morse, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Elinor, of Winter Haven, underwent plastic surgery for his injuries over the weekend. There was no damage to tendons or ligaments in his arm, officials said. Elinor was back home Monday. His roommate said Elinor didn't want to comment.

Elinor now faces a third-degree felony charge of attempting to capture a wild animal. Wildlife officials said he was unaware of how powerful the gator was. "It was foolish," Morse said. "These animals are big, powerful and fast as lightning."

"People are usually outmatched."

The incident occurred about 7 p.m. east of Dundee on the side of Lake Hatchineha Road near Jennings Road. A friend called Elinor and he arrived as onlookers gathered around the reptile. Before a wildlife official could arrive, Elinor sat on the gator.

After he escaped, an injured Elinor told wildlife officials about his attempt to mock Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter known for pouncing and wrestling alligators, Morse said. "He mentioned the fact that he had seen the show on television and he decided to try it," Morse said.

A neighbor described Elinor as about 6 feet tall and 170 pounds.

Generally, when wildlife officials are called about a wandering alligator "we would have just shooed it back away from the road," Morse said. But because it bit the man, the alligator was deemed a danger to humans and was killed.

"Misplaced compassion can result in the death of an alligator," Morse said. "These people are trying to do something good and it causes the animal to be killed." For safety reasons, people shouldn't try to interact with wild animals. "For the protection of both humans and the reptiles, it's illegal to feed, molest or try to capture any alligator," Morse said.

Morse said alligators become more active in warmer months, looking for food and new areas to live and a mate. If an alligator becomes a problem, people can call fish and wildlife at 888-404-3922.

For more information on alligators, go to the fish and wildlife Web site at www.wildflorida.org/gators or call 863-648-3206.

Submitted on 04/25/2003

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: Lakeland Ledger

Copyright © 2002 DarwinAwards.com

Teela said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention

Gregory said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
I don't recall seeing another case of do-it-yourself alligator wrestling

Bill said:
Maybe Toss: Too Common
This is really too common. Surprisingly, we haven't seen too many of these on here.

Jack said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
This is even more egregious than the average twit who attempts to pet a large cat (e.g., lions & tigers) and get themselves (and sadly, the animals as well) killed. I'm torn between Neutral and Maybe Toss, but ... let the audience decide: Thumbs up or thumbs down?

Bert said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
"I saw it on TV" is going right up there with "Hey, watch this!" for famous last words. This verges on too common (we get tons of idiots messing with dangerous animals of all kinds) but let the viewers rate it-

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