A man died searching for Frisbees in a lake at a disc golf course where people are warned by signs to beware of alligators

According to police in Florida, a man died while searching for Frisbees in a lake at a disc golf facility where alligators are warned of by signs.

The unidentified man was searching for flying discs in the water, and “a gator got involved,” according to an email from the Largo Police Department on Tuesday.

According to an email from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the guy who died was 47 years old. A contracted specialist was attempting to remove an alligator from the lake, according to the commission, “and efforts will be made to determine what happened.”

Patrons can “learn the sport of disc golf on a course located in the natural splendor of this park,” according to the park’s website. The course follows the lake, which is marked with no-swimming signs.

People who frequent the disc course claimed it was not uncommon for someone to search the course for discs that could be sold for a few dollars.

The Tampa Bay Times quoted Ken Hostnick, 56, as saying, “These are people that are down on their luck.” “They’ll sometimes dive into the lakes and pull up 40 discs.” You may sell them for five dollars each or ten dollars each, depending on the quality.”

People are being advised to stay away from the lake while it is being cleaned up.

Alligators can be found practically anywhere there is water in Florida. According to the Florida Wildlife Commission, there have been no fatal alligator attacks in the state since 2019, though people and animals have been struck on occasion.

No one should approach or feed a wild alligator, according to wildlife officials, because the reptiles will link people with food. In densely populated places, such as apartment complexes, where people walk their dogs and have small children, this can be more difficult.

In Florida, alligators were formerly considered endangered, but they have subsequently thrived. Fish, turtles, snakes, and small mammals are their primary prey. They are also known as opportunistic predators, meaning they will devour almost anything, including carrion and pets, if the opportunity arises. Alligators have no natural predators in the wild.

This article was first published by The Guardian on 1 June 2022. Lead Image: An alligator warning sign is posted in waters near the scene where a man was found dead. Photograph: Martha Asencio-Rhine/AP.

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