Alligator attacks kayaker paddling in canal, Florida wildlife officials say
CLARIFICATION: Authorities corrected an earlier news release about the location of the attack. It occurred at Tiger Creek Canal.
The story continues below.
An alligator attacked a woman kayaking in a central Florida canal, sending her to a hospital, authorities said.
The attack happened when the woman was paddling Tiger Creek Canal in Polk County on March 3, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.
The gator bit the woman’s elbow, but her condition was unknown, according to the agency.
The FWC and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the location, and a nuisance gator trapper was sent there as well, the FWC said.
“Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida,” FWC officials said in a statement.
The agency runs a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program to trap and often kill gators that threaten people or pets.
The FWC advises people to maintain a safe distance from alligators, never feed gators, only swim during daylight hours in designated areas and keep pets on leashes.
An estimated 1.3 million gators live in Florida, and they can be found in all 67 counties in the state, according to the wildlife agency.
To report a nuisance gator, call the FWC’s hotline at 866-392-4286.
Polk County is about a 60-mile drive east from downtown Tampa.
This story was originally published March 4, 2025 at 7:42 AM.