Gator Attack On Springs Researcher

[ricki]

Pete Butt was recovering some water quality samples in Silver Springs while snorkeling when he was attacked by an 11 1/2 ft., 500 pound alligator. Pete was seriously injured with cuts to his head and neck. He was life flighted out by helicopter to hospital. The alligator was later captured and killed. Pete Butt is Operations Manager for Karst Environmental Services owned by Wes Skiles. Wes is famous for his work in caves and videography over many years.

"Researcher is OK after alligator bite Tuesday attack results in broken jaw; full recovery expected By Cindy Swirko and Alex Chachkevitch

Peter Butt was in fair condition Wednesday and is expected to make a full recovery from a bite by the 11½-foot reptile, said Wes Skiles, owner of Karst Environmental Services, an Alachua County firm that Butt and Skiles started in 1987. “He is expected to make a full recovery,” Skiles said. “It was a completely out-of-nowhere attack. It was just bam.” The alligator attacked Butt, 54, at about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday as he was checking water samples, biting him in the neck.

Butt was flown by helicopter to Shands Hospital at the University of Florida. A trapper worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to locate the alligator Tuesday night, after which the 500-pound reptile was killed."

Complete article and video at:
http://www.ocala.com/article/2010062...lligator-bite#



http://www.ocala.com/

more ...

"he attack, which occurred outside the Silver Springs attraction, had no correlation with alligator mating season, which starts in mid-April and lasts until around mid-July, according to Lindsey Hord, an alligator biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and a coordinator for the agency’s statewide Nuisance Alligator Program. Likewise, he said there is no factual basis for the notion that alligators display aggression because of territoriality.

Joy Hill, a spokeswoman for the FWC, said Butt is an experienced diver and had been coming to the same site for a few months. “You can be careful and experienced and still get [bit],” she said. “Wild animals are unpredictable.” Swimming at dusk, at night and early in the morning can put people at risk because those are alligator feeding times. However, Butt was snorkeling at around 5 p.m., so Hill said she thinks it was just bad luck in this case."

Complete article at:
http://lethalapp.com/news/tag/silver...gs-attraction/

and

"The attack happened under a boathouse just off Silver Springs property. State wildlife officers questioned why the alligator showed no fear of humans. "It exhibited characteristics you wouldn't find from your typical lean-and-mean gator, meaning it didn't have to work too hard for its meals," Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Lt. Don McMillan said.

Friends of the victim said Butt was working in a small canal near Silver Springs testing the health of the aquifer. He apparently didn't see the alligator that is known to employees of the park. "When I spoke to the staff at Silver Springs, they said his nickname is Floyd and he's been around 20 years," McMillan said.."

...

"The victim was in good condition at the Shands Hospital in Gainesville, hospital officials said Wednesday night. They said he is in good spirits and thanks everyone for their concern and well wishes.

"He is extremely grateful for the care provided by the Marion County Fire Rescue emergency personnel, ShandsCair Flight Team and every member of the UF Health Science Center and Shands team that is providing his care," hospital officials said in a statement."

Complete article at:
http://www.wesh.com/news/24008065/detail.html


Heal fully and fast Peter!

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