POSTED: 5:35 pm EDT May 4, 2006
UPDATED: 5:35 pm EDT May 4, 2006
LABELLE, Fla. -- A real estate tycoon who owns a nature preserve tried to show off for visitors by jumping on an alligator's back for a ride, but the reptile bit his hand and dragged him into 15 feet of water.
The 8-foot alligator let go of Ronald Bergeron after witnesses pulled its tail. Bergeron, 62, suffered a shattered pinky, a broken ring finger and puncture wounds in his palm.
The multimillionaire developer tried the stunt Sunday while giving a tour of his 5,000-plus-acre preserve to weekend guests who had made large donations to the Boys & Girls Club.
"I always tell them I'm going to wrestle an alligator," Bergeron said Wednesday. "It's part of my Florida cracker culture. My grandfather was a game warden in the Everglades, and I grew up around alligators."
He said he usually rides the alligator for a minute before letting it go.
This time, Bergeron said, "he was rolling and I couldn't keep control of his mouth. He grabbed my hand in his mouth."
Bergeron was pulled under the water before guests grabbed the alligator and pulled it out. Bergeron was driven to a hospital.
He said he never harms the alligators at the preserve, west of Lake Okeechobee in Hendry County.
Animal harassment is illegal. The incident has not been reported to the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, spokeswoman Dani Moschella said.
Bergeron, who also competes in a weekly rodeo, said he was unlikely to give up alligator wrestling. "Too exciting," he said.
Darwin....Where are you ?????
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
You know, when I was growing up we lived within a few miles of a dairy farm. One year they had a problem with a few of the cow 'disappearing'. Come to find out it was the result of an alligator. The eventually caught and killed it (this was before gators were on the protection list) and hauled it up in the yard.
I was probably 11 or 12 at the time and they called my dad to come take a look which I got to come along. When we got there there was this friggin' HUGE behemouth of a beast in the yard. It measured around 15' in length if I remember correctly.
I remembering then making the mental notation to stay away from these creatures. So I am often agasp as I see videos and shows where people actually try to get close to and wrestle with creatures that have few thoughts other than warmth and food and are skilled in dealing with both issues. While most people would walk or run away from a gator, even small ones apparently this guy did not have the childhood lesson I did.
Of course most people seek shelter from storms and Im running out into them and we're both from Florida. I wonder if there is something in the water there.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
Sorry to get off topic, but I would love to go storm chasing. It looks like such a rush!!!!! or I may just be nuts but yea.......
I have always thought Steve Irwin is nuts for catchin crocs and alligators and he's been doing it since he was 9 and has all the respect in the world for them unlike this schmuck who has no respect and is just showing off.
____________________ Lovin' My ZX3!!!! I finally gave it a name
SMKNS2!!!!
Well if you are ever in my neck of the woods during storm season, give me a shout, I'll take you on an experience you aren't soon to forget, we'll even get a few pics so you can ponder upon it, though tornadoes aren't my specialty, lightning is, which you can see my work at http://www.stormstrikes.com
Though, be warned, I had a database failure so some parts of the site arent working as they should, though the photo gallery should be. I havent been able to update the site with the pics I have gotten from this season yet, been too busy working on my business website but I'll get there eventually.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
