# Trainer grabbed by gator is rescued by 2 visitors at petting zoo **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 17, 2021, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019 "2021-08-17T16:19:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/1 "2021-08-17T16:19:23Z")
The kiddies got more than they bargained for at this petting zoo. The trainer was in serious trouble. She had been dragged into the gators pen. She stayed calm and that probably saved her life. I admire the 2 guys that helped her. I’m not sure I could go into that pen with no training. My idea of a day at the zoo doesn’t include jumping on the back of a gator. Sure glad no one was seriously injured. > **[Video shows visitor save alligator handler’s ‘life and limbs’ in attack at...](https://ktla.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/nationworld/video-shows-visitor-save-alligator-handlers-life-and-limbs-in-attack-at-utah-reptile-center/)** > > A Utah reptile center employee is recovering after an alligator yanked her into its enclosure during a presentation, thrashing her around before a fast-acting visitor leapt inside and helped free h… ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/2 "2021-08-17T16:25:45Z")
Awesome guy, the one who jumped in and grabbed the gator and stopped it from rolling over with the lady. I think once he stopped its rolling, the lady told him what things to do — no sound in the video, it’s a guess. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_McQwark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Steve\_McQwark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_McQwark)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/3 "2021-08-17T16:35:42Z")
Kudos to the guy who jumped on the alligator, but damn, the ice water in the keeper’s veins. Hand clamped in the alligator’s mouth and she just calmly directs her own rescue. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/4 "2021-08-17T16:37:55Z")
Yeah, great move on the man helping. I guess watching Steve Irwin payed off! ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/5 "2021-08-17T16:38:32Z")
Yes she was lying there calmly, propping up her head in her hand like she’s lying on the sofa watching a movie. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/6 "2021-08-17T16:45:46Z")
I can only imagine the guys thoughts when he was in the enclosure alone. The trainer gave good instructions and he got out OK. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/7 "2021-08-17T17:01:35Z")
OK, now why does a petting zoo have an alligator? A **petting** zoo!? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/8 "2021-08-17T17:41:35Z")
I’m glad everyone is OK, but I really like the alligator’s name: Darth Gator. “Luke, you are my lunch!” ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/9 "2021-08-17T17:45:00Z")
I’d guess the petting area is separate from the dangerous animals. Scales and Tails Facebook page calls itself a petting zoo. They posted an update from the trainer. The orthopedic surgeon thinks she’ll regain full use of her hand. She’s on heavy antibiotics. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/10 "2021-08-17T18:05:48Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > OK, now why does a petting zoo have an alligator? Piranha tanks are too expensive? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/11 "2021-08-17T18:33:07Z")
Polk. Salad. Annie. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WrT-TQTLoiw/maxresdefault.jpg "Tony Joe White - Polk Salad Annie 1970") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrT-TQTLoiw) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/12 "2021-08-17T18:36:12Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Piranha tanks are too expensive? This one is only $62.46 and comes with two piranhas included. [https://www.kroinc.com/3-fish-tanks-and-2-piranhas](https://www.kroinc.com/3-fish-tanks-and-2-piranhas) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/13 "2021-08-17T18:37:38Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I’m glad everyone is OK, but I really like the alligator’s name: Darth Gator. > > “Luke, you are my lunch!” - Complete with missing hand. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/14 "2021-08-17T18:46:47Z")
Plenty of credit to go around for all those involved, but yeah, the trainer keeping calm, locking her legs around the gator, then instructing the two men on how to manage the situation - _damn_. This video should be used in crisis training, to demonstrate why keeping calm and not panicking is so important. This woman’s the Gator Sully. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/15 "2021-08-17T19:00:56Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > … the trainer keeping calm, locking her legs around the gator, then instructing the two men on how to manage the situation … … and sticking around _after she was freed_ to direct the guy on how to get himself out safely. She wins the Internet for the week in my book. ---
**Author:** ![tricoteuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tricoteuse/32/4334_2.png) [@tricoteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tricoteuse)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/16 "2021-08-17T19:07:19Z")
I know you would need nerves of steel to work as a gator trainer, but damn! ---
**Author:** ![tricoteuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tricoteuse/32/4334_2.png) [@tricoteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tricoteuse)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2021, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/17 "2021-08-17T19:12:15Z")
It’s the adrenaline junkie petting zoo. Instead of lambs and bunnies they have gators and king cobras. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/18 "2021-08-18T07:24:08Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > OK, now why does a petting zoo have an alligator? A **petting** zoo!? They host kids’ birthday parties, so of course it’s a petting zoo. Kids like that. Alligators probably like that too. Little-known alligator fact: While they have great chomping power when _closing_ their mouth on your arm, they are weak at _opening_ their mouth. So the trick to alligator wrassling is to get your hands around their snout with their mouth closed and hold their mouth closed. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trainer-grabbed-by-gator-is-rescued-by-2-visitors-at-petting-zoo/949019/19 "2021-08-18T13:39:48Z")
Donnie Wiseman reacts to his experience helping the trainer. He credits the trainer for staying calm and giving instructions. > **[Man reacts to jumping on alligator, helping trainer who was bitten](https://www.ksl.com/article/50224696/man-reacts-to-jumping-on-alligator-helping-trainer-who-was-bitten)** > > When an alligator attacked its trainer at a reptile petting zoo in West Valley City, a guest named Donnie Wiseman jumped in to save her, without hesitation.