Kayaking woman bitten by alligator on Lake Wales' Tiger Creek Canal
A woman was bitten on the elbow by an alligator Monday while paddling at Tiger Creek Canal in Polk County, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.
The FWC and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the scene and the victim was taken to the hospital to be treated for her injuries.
A contracted nuisance alligator trapper was dispatched to remove the alligator.
Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, FWC said.
'The FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP),' an email statement said. 'SNAP uses contracted nuisance alligator trappers throughout the state to remove alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property.
People with concerns about an alligator should call FWC's toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).
The FWC recommends the following precautionary measures near alligators, including in or near the water, to reduce the chances of conflicts with alligators:
Alligators in Polk: Among the state's most alligator-infested lakes, Polk County shows up a lot. Surprise? Nah
Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator.
If someone is concerned about an alligator, they should call FWC's toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).
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. It's illegal and dangerous. When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food. This can lead to an alligator becoming a nuisance and needing to be removed from the wild.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Alligator bites kayaker on Lake Wales' Tiger Creek Canal
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