Alligator attacked a 9-year-old boy while swimming in Lake Pontchartrain on Sunday

A 9-year-old boy was attacked by an alligator while swimming in Lake Pontchartrain on Sunday. The boy was with his family near the mouth of Bayou St. John in the evening when the alligator bit him on the leg. His father quickly intervened and managed to free the boy from the alligator’s grip. Mark Shirley, alligator specialist at the LSU Ag Center…

“In virtually any freshwater or even slightly saline or brackish water, you are likely to find an alligator.”

Emergency services were immediately called and the boy was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital where he underwent surgery. Authorities have now closed the area to swimming and are working with the LDWF to find and capture the alligator. This incident has raised safety concerns in areas where human and wildlife habitat overlap.

“It is estimated that there are between three and four million alligators in Louisiana. The population in Louisiana is about 4.5 million, so that’s about one alligator per person in Louisiana.”

Shirley reminds the public to exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings when swimming in natural waters, especially during peak alligator activity times.

“Alligators are usually more active in the dark and during the night when it comes to feeding, so avoid wading or swimming in the pond, especially late at night, around sunset.”

The boy’s condition is stable and doctors expect a full recovery.