Gator Bites Off Man's Hand —and Man Gets Charged

(Newser) – He's either a candidate for a Darwin award or the most pitiable man in Florida right now. Wallace Weatherholt's hand was bitten off by a 9-foot alligator on June 12 ... and on Friday the airboat captain got slapped with charges related to the incident. The 63-year-old was charged with unlawful feeding of an alligator following last month's attack, which occurred as he was giving an Indiana family a tour of the Everglades.

The family said Weatherholt hung a fish over the side of the boat and had his hand at the water's surface when the alligator attacked. Wildlife officers tracked and euthanized the gator. Weatherholt's hand was found but could not be reattached. A criminal investigation followed. Feeding alligators is a second-degree misdemeanor. Weatherholt posted $1,000 bond and will appear in court next month.