According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, an alligator assaulted a teenager at a popular Hardee County paddle boat ramp. The girl’s injuries were not disclosed, but FWC officials classified it as a «bite incident.» It occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. Officials say it happened on Sunday, July 24, «near Gardner Boat Ramp in Zolfo Springs.» The ramp is located about 90 miles southeast of Tampa.
«The FWC went to the location, and a 13-year-old female was carried to the hospital with injuries, but she is stable,» according to officials. «A nuisance alligator trapper on contract has been dispatched to the scene.»
The girl’s identify has not been revealed. The trapper will seek to capture the alligator in order to eliminate the possibility of future human attacks. If the alligator is large enough, it will very certainly be killed. If it is small, it may be relocated to a less densely populated location.
Investigators did not explain what the girl was doing at the time of the bite, but according to Kayakguide.com, Gardner Boat Ramp is located along the Peace River and is a popular place for kayaking, canoeing, and rafting. According to Sarasota Magazine, the river is known to be home to enormous alligators, which paddlers will observe in the water and on the river bank.
