For the second time this month, an alligator has bitten a person in Marion County.
The latest case came June 27 at Nelson’s Outdoor Resort, formerly Nelson’s Fish Camp, 19400 SE County Road 42, just east of the Ocklawaha River.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a juvenile male – age not provided – was bitten on the hand while fishing from shore. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment. The alligator, described as 8 feet 7 inches long, was killed by an FWC officer who responded to the scene.
This attack comes in the wake of an incident on June 21 when a 19-year-old man was bitten on the head and neck by an alligator while snorkeling in the Rainbow River near Dunnellon. He was treated for his injuries at a hospital and then released.
That gator, approximately 8 feet 3 inches in length, also was euthanized. The river was temporarily closed.
Where is Nelson’s Outdoor Resort in Florida?
Nelson’s Outdoor Resort is located at 19400 SE County Road 42 in Umatilla. The resort is a longtime Central Florida camping and fishing destination set along the banks of the Ocklawaha River, according to its website.
The Star-Banner left a voicemail message for the resort on June 28 and also sent an email. There had been no response as of 6:40 p.m.
How often do alligator attacks occur in Florida?
While alligator attacks aren’t uncommon in Florida, deaths from them are, even though alligators are present in every county in the state. The FWC says the chances of a Florida resident being seriously injured in an unprovoked alligator attack are 1 in 3.1 million.
Since the state started tracking alligator bites on people in 1948, and as of the end of 2024 there have been 487 unprovoked bites from wild alligators, according to FWC data. Of those, 339 were major bites and 27 were fatal.
Other alligator attacks in Marion County
How to stay safe in Florida where there are alligators
GatorWise is an educational website designed to “promote realistic public perceptions about alligators and assist the public in taking appropriate actions to minimize conflict.”
The site offers easy-to-understand tips and some basic information about the reptiles and where they live, including:
What do I do if I see an alligator?
If you encounter an alligator you think will be a threat to people, pets or property, call the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 1‐866‐FWC‐GATOR (392‐4286) or visit myfwc.com.
Jim Ross and Austin L. Miller contributed
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Another alligator bite in Marion County, this time in Umatilla
Reporting by Ashley Ferrer, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Ocala Star-Banner
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ashley Ferrer, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
