77-year-old woman bitten by alligator in Lakewood Ranch neighborhood pond, FWC says

Ryan Ballogg
·2 min read
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A woman was bitten by an alligator in a Bradenton area retirement community on Saturday, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a news release Sunday.

The attack happened near a home in the 16000 block of Ellsworth Avenue in the Del Webb gated community in Lakewood Ranch.

The 77-year-old woman was walking on the sidewalk next to a retention pond near her home prior to the attack, FWC spokesman Forest Rothchild said in an email.

FWC could not provide any further details Sunday about how the encounter with the alligator occurred, but said the woman “suffered injuries to her left hand.” The severity of the injuries was also unknown.

Wildlife officials received a call about the attack around 6 p.m. Saturday and responded to the neighborhood, along with Manatee County EMS and the sheriff’s office.

The woman was taken to an area hospital for treatment, FWC said.

Wildlife officials say that a 7 foot, 10 inch long alligator was responsible for the attack. A witness kept the alligator in sight until a nuisance alligator trapper was able to remove it, FWC said.

“There were no other alligators in the area fitting the size and description of the responsible alligator,” the news release said. “Officials are confident the responsible alligator was removed.”

No other details were immediately available.

Alligator safety tips

While serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, FWC says that residents and visitors should still be aware of the risks. The agency offers the following tips for living safely with alligators:

  • Alligators become more visible and active during spring and summer. When temperatures rise, their metabolism increases, and they begin seeking food.

  • Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator. If someone is concerned about an alligator, they can call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). FWC will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation.

  • Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge. Pets often resemble alligators’ natural prey.

  • Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.

  • Never feed an alligator. Feeding alligators is illegal and dangerous. When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness of people and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food.

Visit myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/gators for more tips.