The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the alligator that it believes bit a woman’s arm on Aug. 8 in the Silver River has been captured and euthanized.
The gator measured 9 feet 8 inches.
According to the agency and Marion County Fire Rescue, an adult woman was swimming in the Silver River when she was bitten. This happened about 2:20 p.m. Aug. 8 near Ray Wayside Park, 9564 NE 28th Lane, Silver Springs. It is part of the Marion County park system and includes a boat launch onto the Silver River.
FWC said good Samaritans located the woman and brought her to shore. Marion County Fire Rescue officials said the woman was taken to to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville.
FWC and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office temporarily closed the Silver River on Aug. 9 while they trapped the alligator, according to Marion County Parks & Recreation.
The alligator bite was the third in the county this summer. The other cases were near Dunnellon on the Rainbow River and in Umatilla.
In 2022, Dunnellon authorities put out a warning about roaming alligators on a trail at Blue Run of Dunnellon Park, 19680 E. Pennsylvania Ave., along the Rainbow River.
In 2006, 23-year-old Annmarie Campbell was reportedly killed by a 11-foot-5 inches bull alligator. The huge reptile was captured in Juniper Creek, which is east of Lake George. It took trappers close to five days and eight baited hooks to haul in the gator.
In 2010, a researcher snorkeling in the Silver River was bitten by a 11-foot-3 inches alligator that was later apprehended by trappers.
FWC officials said people with concerns about an alligator should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 1-866-FWC-GATOR (1-866-392-4286).
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: State says alligator that bit woman in Silver River has been euthanized
Reporting by Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner / Ocala Star-Banner
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner | USA TODAY Network
