Gator-getter shares his secrets

Columbia, S.C. | Capturing a man-eating alligator is all in a day's work for Department of Natural Resources contractor Ron Russell.

Last Sunday, he caught an

11-foot, 550-pound alligator that attacked a snorkeler in Lake Moultrie. Bill Hedden's arm was bitten off; doctors were unable to reattach it.

A few days later, Russell spoke with The Associated Press about the work he's done the past five years with the help of his wife and two sons. This year, the Russells have already caught more than 70 as part of their work answering calls to remove so-called nuisance alligators.

AP: You routinely capture alligators, but were you hesitant about capturing the one involved in last Sunday's attack?

Russell: Instincts take over and you don't think much about it. We captured him and secured him ... One of the officers handed me a knife and we went to work. I knew where I needed to go and got there and got the man's arm out. EMT was waiting there with a bag to get it on ice and get it to the hospital. So, within an hour we had that arm to the hospital.

AP: Expert catchers make it look easy. How difficult is it to catch these large reptiles?

Russell: Yeah, Steve Irwin made it look real easy to a certain extent because he knew the animals. Although I would never classify myself as a Steve Irwin, I do things very methodical. I can read the animal. I've only been physically hurt twice in all the years I've been messing with them. And they were just dumb accidents. So, sometimes it looks easy and sometimes it's not very easy.

AP: Tell us about the two times you were hurt.

Russell: I was securing a seven-foot gator and he got my hand in his mouth and dislocated one of my fingers. That was our mistake ... And the other time was with a tail. I got my ankles cut open from the end of a tail, which can be razor sharp.

AP: What should people do if they encounter an alligator?

Russell: First off, don't approach it and, second, get on the phone and call the professionals. Usually they call 911 and the dispatcher transfers the call to the DNR and the DNR calls me. It's best off not to disturb them.