Alligator attack on the Hillsborough River

Video above: Trappers catch “dangerous” 9-foot alligator in Thonotosassa

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – A woman is recovering after being bitten by an alligator in the Hillsborough River last week.

The woman was in the water on July 4 when the 2.5-meter-long alligator bit her in the leg, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.

She was taken to a nearby hospital for her injuries.

Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, but the FWC advises people to be cautious in bodies of water because alligators may be nearby.

The FWC provided the following tips to keep Florida residents and visitors safe around alligators:

• If you see an alligator, keep a safe distance. If anyone is concerned about an alligator, they should call the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286.
• Keep your pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge.
• Only swim without your pet during the day in designated swimming areas, as alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.
• Never feed an alligator – it is illegal and dangerous.