A more than eight-foot-long alligator on Sunday attacked a teenage snorkeler in the Rainbow River, which was closed and then reopened to the public that evening.
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First responders got word of an “exotic animal bite” at the well-known tourist destination in Marion County after the 19-year-old was bitten by an alligator around his head and neck, causing severe injuries described as “deep cuts” with serious bleeding, according to a Marion County Fire Rescue report.
The incident happened about noon in Dunnellon, where the river is popular for tubing and snorkeling.
The agency transferred the victim to UF Health Shands Hospital for treatment. By Monday, he had been released, said Hailee Seely, a spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in an emailed statement.
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A professional trapper found the offending alligator and removed it from the area, Seely said. FWC did not provide further details on whether the reptile was relocated or euthanized.
“Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida,” Seely wrote.
The state saw 13 unprovoked attacks last year, two of which were fatal, according to FWC. Since FWC began recording those incidents in 1948, there have been about 500 total reported.
The agency recommends people keep a safe distance from alligators and only swim in designated areas during daylight hours. The reptiles are most active between dawn and dusk, as well as their mating season, which peaks in May and June.
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