Man loses hand to alligator, charged with unlawful feeding

An Everglades City airboat captain who lost his hand to an alligator last month was arrested Friday. Wallace Weatherholt, 63, is facing a misdemeanor charge of unlawful feeding of an alligator.

Weatherholt was leading an Indiana family on a tour of the Everglades on June 12 when he encountered a 9-foot alligator, which bit his hand off at the wrist.

The Associated Press reports that airboat passengers stated Weatherholt hung a fish over the side of the boat and had his hand at the water’s surface when the alligator attacked.

Feeding alligators is illegal. Those who feed an alligator face a second-degree misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $500 and possible jail time.

David Weathers, a nuisance-alligator trapper and owner of several alligators, said the reason it’s illegal to feed alligators is because once the reptiles are fed by humans, they lose their fear. If the alligator in this incident had been fed in the past — either by Weatherholt or someone else — just the sight of the airboat could bring the alligator right up next to it, he said.

This made me laugh. The police have charged this guy because losing your hand isn't enough punishment. I bet he would be happy to pay 10 times the fine if he could get his hand back.

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