Man Snatches Eagle From Gator's Jaws

PARRISH, FL — A Florida man’s heroic attempt to snatch a bald eagle from an alligator’s jaws on Wednesday ended in tragedy. After receiving a medical evaluation, the bird was euthanized due to extensive injuries.

“He couldn’t move his legs and (had) blood in his throat,” Justin Matthews of Matthews Wildlife Rescue told Patch.

Matthews was called out to Parrish’s Copperstone subdivision on Wednesday after David Anderson dove into a pond to pull the bald eagle from the gator's grip. Matthews took the bird to Save Our Seabirds for help. That organization, in turn, took him to a veterinarian.

The eagle’s “spine was broken,” Matthews said. “He had to be euthanized.”

Anderson, who is undergoing chemotherapy, explained to Fox 13 why he was willing to battle an alligator to save an eagle.

“It’s our treasure,” the station quoted Anderson as saying. “It stands for who we are and what we are.”

Matthews posted about the rescue on his Facebook page.

“This guy is awesome,” he wrote. “I let him know it, too.”

Even so, Matthews said he doesn’t recommend interfering with nature taking its course. The alligator, he said, was just being an alligator.

“Everything’s got to eat,” Matthews said. “It’s just part of the circle of life.”

The eagle that died left behind a mate and an eaglet. The baby bald eagle, Matthews said, is close to being big enough to take its first flight. Until it's ready to soar on its own, its mother is left to fend for herself and her offspring on her own, Matthews said.

See also: Watch Live Eagle Cam: Protective Parents Dote On Growing Eaglet

People who have been tuning into watch a different eagle family via the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Foundation's 24-hour live stream know that both eagle parents play a big role in rearing their hatchlings. The live stream chronicles the lives of Fort Myers bald eagles Harriet and M15. The mated pair were joined by eaglet E9 bright and early New Year’s Eve morning. Since then, viewers have been able to watch as Harriet and M15 take turns doting over their baby. The young eaglet is never left unattended.

The Parrish eaglet now has no protector while its mother is away, Matthews said. “This story is really sad,” he added.

Florida is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators. With that in mind, there are things residents and visitors alike need to know to stay safe around alligators and prevent potential tragedies, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials say.

“You are likely to find alligators in almost every body of freshwater in the state at some time or another,” said Gary Morse, FWC spokesman. “Alligators also frequent brackish waters and are sometimes found in saltwater where they will remain for short periods.”

See also: What You Need To Know About Florida Alligators

The first rule of living with gators or visiting a state where they are so abundant, Morse said, is to “never approach an alligator – appreciate it from a safe distance.”

To help people stay safe around alligators, the state has created an educational brochure that Morse recommends all residents and visitors check out.

“It’s imperative that people become informed about alligators and alligator safety,” he said. “Go to our website at MyFWC.com and read the Living With Alligators brochure.”

To find out more about Matthews Wildlife Rescue, visit it online.

Photo of David Anderson and Justin Matthews courtesy of Justin Matthews