New information reveals that firefighters from a station just less than a kilometre away from Walt Disney World Resort’s Seven Seas Lagoon had fed alligators months before an unfortunate gator attack at the resort claimed the life of two-year-old Lane Graves.
The information came from emails obtained by the
Orlando Sentinel.
The firefighters were admonished by Reedy Creek Emergency Services for feeding alligators that could be related to the one that dragged the young boy into the water June 14.
Reedy Creek dispatcher Dan Lewis first reported on the firefighters feeding the gators in April, notifying communications captain Claude Rogers that the animals have grown unafraid of humans and were lurking next to the station’s parking lot.
“They are coming out in the parking lot much more than others in the past and WE are the ones who have to walk in that parking lot every day and in the dark,” Lewis wrote. “They are not docile gators, they are mean and they are out looking for food because people are feeding them. It's getting uncomfortable.”
In response, Rogers sent a notice to the firehouse.
“It was brought to our attention firefighters are feeding the alligators (this is illegal),” said Rogers in his email to staff.
Two months after the warning, the Disney World gator incident occurred.
Feeding alligators in Florida is illegal under Statute 372.667.
It is unknown how the feeding affects the question of liability regarding the incident.
Days after the tragedy, Disney resort staff installed temporary barriers and new signs that warned people of alligators.
Related stories:
Will Disney insurers pay for fatal alligator attack?
Far Out Friday: Could brokers insure a real life Jurassic World?
