Authorities estimated the alligator at 9 to 12 feet long and said a wildlife trapper placed traps after the Labor Day attack.
SPRING HILL, Fla. — A child was hospitalized after being bitten by an alligator while swimming at Weeki Wachee Preserve on Labor Day, authorities said. The child suffered injuries to an arm and a leg that officials said were not life-threatening.
The attack happened Monday, Sept. 7, at the Hernando County preserve. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said the alligator was estimated to be between 9 and 12 feet long. The child’s name and exact age have not been released. Authorities also have not provided a detailed account of how the encounter began.
The injured child was with several other children who became isolated on a sandbar after the attack, according to authorities. Hernando County Fire Rescue responded and used an airboat to reach the group. Rescue personnel brought the children back to safety and provided medical care before the injured child was taken to Bayonet Point Hospital.
Officials described the child’s injuries as puncture wounds to an arm and a leg. Although the injuries required hospital treatment, authorities said they were not considered life-threatening. No later public update had been released Tuesday describing the child’s condition or saying whether the child remained hospitalized.
A licensed Florida wildlife trapper responded to the preserve after the attack and placed traps in an effort to capture the alligator. Officials had not announced by Tuesday whether the animal had been caught. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also responded and was investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The attack occurred in an area where swimming is prohibited. The Southwest Florida Water Management District, which provides public information about the preserve, states that swimming is not allowed in any of its lakes. The sheriff’s office said FWC was handling an investigation involving the swimming violation. Authorities have not released information about how long the children had been in the water or whether an adult was nearby.
Weeki Wachee Preserve covers 11,206 acres along the Hernando County coast west of Weeki Wachee. The conservation area includes freshwater and saltwater marshes, hardwood swamps, pine-covered sandhills and several miles of river frontage. The property also has numerous lakes and offers permitted recreational activities including hiking, bicycling, fishing and paddling in designated areas.
Florida wildlife officials say serious injuries caused by alligators are rare, but encounters can occur throughout the state. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says alligators are found in all 67 Florida counties and advises people to swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours. The agency uses contracted nuisance-alligator trappers when an animal is believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property.
The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office urged people near waterways to follow posted restrictions after the attack. Investigators had not released additional details about the encounter as of Tuesday, and officials had not confirmed whether the alligator believed to be involved had been captured.
Author note: Last updated September 8, 2026.