A quiet Friday night of backyard fishing in North Fort Myers turned into a full-on fight for survival when, according to 71-year-old resident James Grayson McMicken, an alligator lunged out of the canal behind his home and clamped down on his right leg. McMicken says the gator dragged him into the water until he jabbed one eye with his thumb, then repeatedly stabbed the other with his fishing pole, finally forcing the reptile to let go.
He was taken to a Cape Coral hospital, where he received staples and stitches. McMicken is now back home, recovering and starting physical therapy after the late-night attack.
According to FOX5, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said officers and a state-contracted nuisance alligator trapper responded to the scene, and trapping efforts were still underway. The FOX5 report notes that WINK, via CNN Newsource, conducted the original on-camera interview with McMicken.
How He Fought Back
Speaking with Local10, McMicken described the split-second decision-making that kicked in while he was in the water. He said he jammed his thumb into one of the gator’s eyes, then started jabbing the other eye with his fishing pole until the animal finally released his leg.
"I'm going to do everything I can not to die," he told the station, recalling the frantic struggle. McMicken also said his bulldog helped him crawl back toward the house, where family members cleaned his wounds before he was transported to the hospital.
Officials and Statewide Context
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission runs the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program and urges residents to report problem gators by calling 1-866-FWC-GATOR, according to the agency’s materials.
Unprovoked alligator bites in Florida are still considered rare, but the numbers have been inching up. ClickOrlando reported that FWC data shows roughly 500 unprovoked bites recorded statewide through February 2026. Officials quoted in that coverage urged people not to feed wildlife and to use extra caution around freshwater, especially at dusk and at night when alligators are more active.
Neighbors' Warnings
Neighbors in North Fort Myers have had their own run-ins with gators in recent months. Gulf Coast News reported that in May, an alligator killed a dog in the Tara Woods neighborhood and was later removed by trappers.
Despite his brush with a canal-side predator, McMicken told reporters he does not plan to give up fishing. He did say, though, that he will be a lot more careful around the water at night from now on.
