Alligator Eats Dog in Wheaton

Wildlife officials are warning Montgomery County residents to steer clear of "sleeping" alligators after a 6-foot gator attacked and ate a Glenmont resident's toy poodle

Fred Schneider was throwing the tennis ball for his dog, Quiche, during his afternoon lunch break at Pine Lake in Wheaton Regional Park. The 4-pound pup was standing at the end of a 40-foot leash at the water's edge.

Then "boom, the water just sort of exploded," Schneider said. "She never barked. She never saw it."

Quiche was grabbed head first by an alligator.

“It took her down like it was nothing,” Schneider said.

Schneider tried to grab the gator, but quickly realized it was a bad idea once he saw how large it was—6-feet, 2-inches long, according to a Maryland Department of Herpetological Resources incident report.

Quiche, pictured here, was eaten by an alligator at Pine Lake in Wheaton Regional Park.

Officials Post Warnings

Wildlife officials posted warnings for park visitors in Montgomery County to steer clear of "sleeping" alligators. With freezing cold winter nights, alligators enter a state of brumation, similar to hibernation, and lay motionless for hours or days just below the water’s surface.

But don’t be fooled. They are still very dangerous.

“During brumation they aren’t frozen and can still react with lightning-fast speed,” said MDHR conservationist Wallace Gavial. “Especially when they get startled.”

Alligators became ubiquitous to Maryland's 127 natural lakes recently, as warmer winters allowed the adaptable reptiles to expand their range. Last year a 12-foot, 750-pound alligator was removed from the Occoquan Reservoir.

“Don’t allow dogs or children to drink or play at the water’s edge. To an alligator, a splash potentially means a food source,” Gavial said.

While there are no recorded alligator attacks on humans in Montgomery County yet, this week's incident at Pine Lake is seen as a harbinger for things to come. Anywhere there is standing water, an alligator might be found, officials warn.

Wheaton Gator Trapped and Killed

The Pine Lake alligator was removed by a Maryland Nuisance Alligator Program trapper and euthanized.

The area where Schneider frequented with his dog is known to be a popular area among park visitors, who stroll or fish near the water's edge.

"It's Maryland, you’re not expecting a gator to come out and eat your dog," Schneider said.

Quiche's remains were found by the trapper. Schneider later buried and gave her a respectful farewell.

“No one wants to go by gator, you know?” Schneider said. "She was a sweet, sweet, sweet puppy."

To keep Maryland’s alligator population in check, the Department of Herpetological Resources will oversee a lottery-based managed hunt next April.