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Firefighters warned to stop feeding alligators at a station just a half-mile from Walt Disney World months before a young boy, 2, was snatched and killed by a reptile

Warning not to feed gators issued before boy's death at Walt Disney World
Firefighters at a station a half-mile away told to stop feeding the reptiles
Two-year-old Lane Graves was snatched and killed by a gator last month
He had been paddling in the Seven Seas Lagoon in Florida when attacked
Staff earlier asked Reedy Creek Emergency Services to remove a gator

By Liam Quinn For Dailymail.com and Associated Press

Published: 10:45 GMT, 14 July 2016 | Updated: 12:55 GMT, 14 July 2016

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Firefighters at Walt Disney World were told to stop feeding alligators at one of the resort's fire stations two months before a toddler was killed by one of the reptiles.

Reedy Creek Emergency Services slammed staff for feeding at least two of the animals at a station less than half a mile from Seven Seas Lagoon, where two-year-old Nebraska boy Lane Graves was pulled into the water by a gator last month, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

The email obtained by the newspaper also said employees were afraid after a gator was spotted near the parking lot and asked officials to remove it.

Firefighters at Walt Disney World were warned to stop feeding alligators at one of the resort's fire stations two months before a toddler was killed by one of the reptiles in a lagoon (pictured)

Reedy Creek District Administrator John Classe said Disney's animal-control department was contacted but he did not know whether either alligator was ever removed.

A Disney spokeswoman said Wednesday it was unclear whether the gator had been removed.

Feeding alligators is illegal in Florida.

It comes after Lane's father told officials he believed two reptiles were involved in the attack that killed his son.

Two-year-old Lane Graves (left) was dragged to his death by an alligator at the Walt Disney World Resort last month. His father Matt Graves (right) told authorities he was desperately trying to save his son when a second alligator attacked

Rescuers searched the water in the shadow of Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom for 17 hours before Lane's body was recovered intact

Reedy Creek Emergency Services slammed staff for feeding at least two of the animals at a station less than half a mile from Seven Seas Lagoon (pictured), where two-year-old Nebraska boy Lane Graves was pulled into the water by a gator last month

The two-year-old was paddling just ten feet from the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon at the upscale resort on June 14 when he was attacked by the predator and dragged into the water. His body was found 'intact' in the water 17 hours later.

His father, Matt Graves, told authorities he was desperately trying to save his son when a second alligator attacked.

But even after fending off his own attack, Graves was unable to pry his toddler from the jaws of the first animal's grasp - and the creature disappeared underwater, taking the child with it.

Florida wildlife officials later announced that they had removed and killed five alligators from the lagoon - including the one they believe dragged the Nebraska toddler to his death, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Employees were reportedly afraid after a gator was spotted near the parking lot and asked officials to remove it from the lagoon

Fencing has been built along the shoreline of the lagoon since the two-year-old boy was tragically killed last month

Reedy Creek District Administrator John Classe said Disney's animal-control department was contacted but he did not know whether either alligator was ever removed after staff complaints prior to Lane's death

The park has admitted it routinely catches the reptiles near the resort.

The Seven Seas Lagoon behind the upscale hotel is off limits to guests, and there are 'no swimming' signs posted nearby - but none of them warned about possible alligators in the water, like the signs posted at the Polynesian Village hotel next door.

The beaches have all since been reopened but a fence has now been erected and signs put up warning of alligators and snakes in the area.