POLK COUNTY — An alligator bit a woman on the elbow Monday at Tiger Creek Canal, according to a spokesperson with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.
They say the woman was “paddling” at the time of the bite and that she was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated.
A nuisance alligator trapper was contracted and “has been dispatched to remove the alligator,” according to the spokesperson.
FWC has a series of precautionary measures the agency says people should take near alligators to reduce the chances of conflict:
Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator. If someone is concerned about an alligator, they should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286), and they will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation.
Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge. Pets often resemble alligators’ natural prey.
Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.
Never feed an alligator. It’s illegal and dangerous. When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food. This can lead to an alligator becoming a nuisance and needing to be removed from the wild.
