Alligator bites woman on arm in Marion County Silver River; gator removed from area: FWC

MARION COUNTY, Fla. - A woman is recovering in the hospital after officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said she was bitten by an alligator while swimming in Marion County on Saturday.

The victim was transported to the hospital as a trauma alert, Marion County Fire Rescue reported Sunday. Authorities have not provided an update on her condition at this time. 

What we know:

Officials said the woman was swimming in the Silver River on Aug. 8 when she was bitten on the arm. The woman was then assisted by Good Samaritans, who brought her back to shore, according to wildlife officials.

The woman was later transported to an area hospital for treatment, officials said. 

Trapper catches alligator

FWC officers and a contracted Nuisance Alligator Trapper responded to the scene to locate the alligator. The alligator was found on Sunday, officials said. 

A 9-foot-8-inch alligator was removed from the area, FWC reported. 

The backstory:

The incident comes after several alligator incidents in Central Florida since June, including one where a woman died.

Silver River reopens

Following the incident, Marion County officials reported that Silver River was temporarily closed while the trapper worked to remove the alligator. 

As of Aug. 9, the river has now reopened to the public. 

What you can do:

Wildlife officials urge anyone with concerns about an alligator should contact the Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286 and a wildlife official will respond to the location to resolve the situation. 

Marion County