A weekend swim at Wallace Brooks Park in Inverness turned frightening on Saturday evening when a woman was bitten in the leg by an alligator. She was taken for medical treatment, while state wildlife crews converged on the lakefront park to track down and remove the gator.
According to Tampa Bay 28, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received a call about the attack around 6:15 p.m. Officials told the outlet that a nuisance alligator trapper was dispatched to Wallace Brooks Park as part of the removal effort. The woman, who had been swimming at the time of the bite, was transported for treatment, the station reported.
State Officials: Gator Bites Are Rare but Serious
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, alligators are found across Florida, yet serious unprovoked bites average about eight per year. The agency’s fact sheet documents 453 unprovoked incidents between 1948 and 2022.
The commission warns the public, “Never swim outside of posted swimming areas,” and urges anyone who encounters a threatening alligator to call the Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 1‑866‑FWC‑GATOR.
Wallace Brooks Park and Local Rules
Wallace Brooks Park sits on Lake Henderson and is a popular spot for its boardwalk, fishing access and lakefront views. According to the City of Inverness, alligators are a “fairly common sight” around the lake, and swimming is not allowed at city parks except at the municipal pool.
What Residents Should Do
Officials are reminding residents and visitors to keep children and pets away from the water’s edge, never feed wildlife and report any aggressive or unusually bold alligators to authorities. Per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, its Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program relies on contracted trappers to remove alligators four feet and larger and responds when a public safety threat is reported.
