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By Beth Stibal |

Florida Teen Suffers Attack By 9-Foot Alligator, Receives Minor Injuries

A 14-year-old boy in Central Florida is recovering, after officials say he was attacked by a 9-foot alligator at a pond.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the alligator bit the teen on his hand and leg in Charlotte County on Tuesday afternoon.

“The boy and his mother were here with their two dogs and they were just enjoying the weather with their two dogs and playing near the shoreline there, ” says Senior Officer Adam Brown.

The boy was taken to a hospital for treatment.

A trapper later captured and removed the gator, which measured 9 feet, 9 inches long.

Alligators can be found in all 67 Florida counties.

“If you’re anywhere near any body of water in the state of Florida there’s probably going to be an alligator nearby, ” Brown adds.

FWC says alligator and human interactions have become more frequent. For that reason, they recommend staying away away from areas where gators may be lurking.

Brown explains, “We don’t want anyone to feed or entice or molest an alligator in any way, we don’t want to create a conflict where there is no conflict there.”