Miami HeraldMiami Herald

The alligator was killed as a potential threat to humans after a terrifying encounter with a Florida paddleboarder.

The alligator was trapped and removed at the request of Silver Springs State Park, where the incident occurred in September.

Fresh Take Florida reported that it was dispatched with a shot to the head and that it was processed for its hide and meat.

The deadly measure was authorized after photos and video of the alligator swimming up close to a woman on a paddle board surfaced on social media.

Baker is seen pushing the alligator away with her paddle, only to hear the alligator's displeasure.

Why are you messing with me? Baker is heard saying in one video, "Why are you trying to bite me?"

I have never had an alligator after me before. How close is he to me? He tried to bite my board. Someone has been feeding an alligator. It makes them very dangerous.

In one video, an observer tells Baker to back away from the alligator because she made him angry.

Baker said she and two other people reported the incident to a park ranger when they returned to shore. The entire 5-mile Silver River and surrounding sandhill forest are included in the 4,000-acre park.

He came up fast and out of nowhere. Baker wrote on Facebook that he was scared of the daylights.

I was talking to my friends while I was in the water. I didn't have time to do anything. I was not standing up. I would have fallen in the water.

The park's request to remove the alligator as a nuisance has faced some criticism on social media, including those who say Baker should have handled the situation differently.

The park's managers saw aggression and potential threat in the reptile's familiarity with humans.

One woman wrote on Facebook that the gator would stay away from people if they didn't feed them.

According to the state, there are 1.3 million alligators in Florida and they can be found in all 67 counties.

The state defines nuisance alligators as those that are at least 4 feet in length and believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission provides nuisance alligator removal at no cost. The state says that trappers get to keep the alligator carcass and hide as part of their compensation.

A large alligator is chewing on a python.

Video shows a crocodile jumping from a van in traffic.

The disappearances of calves led the hunter to the alligator.

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