The Florida Fish and Wildlife . A contracted alligator trapper was dispatched into the area and an investigation is underway, according to a statement shared by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) to CNN. Mothers are very protective. When you walk down it by the lake, you'll stand right there and look at you like he's in a hunting mode," he explained. Lots of Alligators! - Review of Hillsborough River State Park CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Lake Manatee is an artificial water body resulting from a dam constructed along the Manatee River. Forever FLOTUS Michelle Obama Jams w/Bruce Springsteen Will Smith Posts BTS of Emancipation & More | WATCH, Lil Meech Calls Cap on 2-Year-Old Pic w/Groupie Doctor Says Oral Sex Causes Throat Cancer & More | PicsVideos, Ne-Yo Says Celebs Are Weirdos-Hes Willing to Love Down A Plain Jane + Ime Udoka Publicly Apologizes for Affair & More | PicsVideos. The lake gets its name from the Thonotosassa area, a critical quarry for Seminole Indians. A good Samaritan drove La Verde to the hospital. Open today: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM. However, La Verde is still looking up despite the scary encounter. Lake Thonotosassa presents many recreational activities for residents and visitors. La Verde attributed his survival to his instincts, luck, and divine intervention. Merda managed to come up three times during the struggle before the alligator took off with significant parts of his arm. 222,553 Samples. Taylor Lake is not the most crocodile-infested water body in Florida, but it is the location of the first incident involving an alligator attack in 2022. In Florida, the FWC in November 2021 stated there were 442 unprovoked alligator bites from 1948 to 2021, with an average of six per year. THONOTOSASSA, Fla. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said an alligator bit someone Wednesday afternoon, sending them to the hospital. Max Steele Ensure you have your fishing license if you plan to engage in the activity on the lake. The animal . There have been at least three fatal alligator attacks in the US this year. An alligator bit a man at Lake Thonotosassa in Thonotosassa, Florida, shown in a file photo from February 19, 2020. . In a rare incident, a Florida man was bitten on his face while swimming in Lake Thonotosassa, northeast of Tampa. According to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, it was the 18th attack by an alligator this year. Police suspect that the alligators were in their mating or nesting season when they became most irritable, which explains why they viciously attacked McGuiness. We Publish News 24/7. 9. A Florida man's swim in Lake Thonotosassa took a nasty turn when he was bitten in the face by an alligator. Despite knowing about the danger of working in the alligator-infested lake, he never seemed bothered by the threat, despite not having health insurance. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. So, what I think I did, what I felt like I did, was that I immediately tried to open its jaws because I knew I was in a gator, La Verde said. "He had a big gash on his face and he had a towel covering his wound, and then he said that they called 911. It was not until the man walked back to the private property where he had parked that it was clear he had been attacked by an alligator. USF president says student protesters caused an active shooter response from staff, Tampa Theatre secures $14 million for repairs and restorations, Following report of a shrinking canopy, City of Tampa plans to plant 30,000 trees by 2030, Florida Republicans clear path for DeSantis to run for president without resigning, By Jim Saunders and News Service of Florida, Appeals court broadly supports most of 2021 Florida elections law, overturning judge's ruling, Florida Gov. Lake Thonotosassa covers over 800 acres and is the largest in Hillsborough County. Are There Alligators in the Mississippi River? COPYRIGHT 2022 EURweb.com/Rabercom Enterprises. He went for a swim in Lake Thonotosassa just outside of Tampa on Wednesday, August 3 when the alligator swam directly upon him and began to attack, per WFTS Tampa News.. La Verde, who often goes by "JC Defeats," was swimming in the lake to film an instructional video for his company . suffered a frightening attack by an alligator, avoiding weedy areas during nesting and hatching season. Tue, Aug 16, 2022 at 5:17 pm. The FWC, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue all responded to the scene. Are There Alligators in Tampa Bay? (2023 Updated) Alligator bites visitor at Lake Thonotosassa Wednesday afternoon - WFTS Thu, Aug 4, 2022 at 2:29 pm, The Savannah Bananas will bring 'the greatest show in sports' to Tampa this weekend, New coffee in Seminole Heights, Chef Suzanne Lara has a new Tampa concept, and more Tampa Bay foodie news. MORE NEWS ON EURWEB: Alligator Eats Drone That Was Trying to Film A Close Up Of its Mouth Open (Watch). Lake Thonotosassa. on Though extremely rare, there have now been three known fatal alligator attacks so far in 2022. Footage captures encounter between Juan Carlos La Verde, gator In particular, the emphasis is placed on the so-called "nuisance alligators" which have a size of at least four feet and perceived to pose a threat to people, their pets, and property, as summarized by the US media network. Will Downing on New Song Following Daughters Suicide, Advice to Parents, Issa Rae and Shameik Moore Would Unalive Spiders Matthew Lawrence Opens Up About Hollywood Casting Couch & More | PicVideos. Watch an Alligator Prepare to Attack a Bird Only to Be Eaten by Another Alligator Twice Its Size, Discover Why Alligators Wont Cross Georgias Fall Line, 3 Florida Lakes with Alligator Attacks in 2022, Bay News, Available here: https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2022/06/08/gator-taylor-lake-mcguinness, Fox 13 News, Available here: https://www.fox13news.com/news/its-do-or-die-man-loses-arm-after-surviving-alligator-attack-at-lake-manatee, Tampa Bay, Available here: https://www.tampabay.com/news/2022/08/26/never-saw-the-alligator-how-a-tampa-bay-man-survived-vicious-attack/. The 34-year-old victim survived the incident and was immediate hospitalized following yet another unprovoked alligator attack in the state. JC La Verde, firefighter and paramedic for Oldsmar Fire Rescue, had been swimming in Lake Thonotosassa, towards the northeast of Tampa, on August 3 when the alligator attacked, according to a . He specializes in travel content. Thank you for reading! The park offers several amenities, including a golf course, a walking trail, and . Some incidents transpired inside golf course areas and gated communities where the murky is also resided by the reptilians. However, when they start being fed, they lose their fear of humans. An alligator bit a man's face at Lake Thonotosassa in Florida - CNN The alligator did not bite off his entire arm, and the doctors at Sarasota Memorial Hospital performed a surgery involving amputating the remaining parts of his right arm. La Verde admitted to the newspaper that he hadnt taken precautions before swimming in the lake, such as examining the water for alligators and avoiding weedy areas during nesting and hatching season. For the fourth time in the last three weeks, someone in the Tampa Bay region has been attacked by an alligator. Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County, EPC Water Quality data gathered from reports, FDEP Southwest Regional Operations Center, Hillsborough County Environmental Management Division, LAKEWATCH Supplemental Water Quality Sampling, LAKEWATCH Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring. You have entered an incorrect email address! Out of these attacks, 26 were fatal and one fatal injury in nearly every three years, the US media outlet says. Season 3 of Brat Loves Judy Highlights Shortage of Black Sperm Gladys Knights Farewell Tour Continues This Summer in US. Around 1.3 million alligators live in Florida, in all 67 counties, according to the commission. Many of those who visit the lake engage in cutthroat trout fishing. A similar incident occurred at the same park in 2020. Wednesday it happened in Hillsborough County. Luckily, the scary incident only lasted a few seconds, and La Verde managed to wrestle his way out of the jaws of death. The FWC says the removal of the dangerous alligators does not pose a significant impact to its population. Its both a tragedy and a miracle at the same time, Ross told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. You can capture various fish species, including speckled perch, sunshine bass, catfish, shell cracker, and bluegill. Nuisance alligators those that are 4 feet longer or more and believed to pose a threat to people, their pets, or property are trapped and killed by the agency through its Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program. Juan Carlos La Verde, of Brandon, was taking a dip in Lake Thonotosassa on Wednesday afternoon when . A Florida alligator took a chomp of a man's face when he was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa in Hillsborough County on Thursday, August 4. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, FWC, and the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office all responded to the scene. Merda was visiting the fish camp when he lost his way while strolling in the woods. The La Verdes on their boat in a lake behind their house, before the alligator attack. Alligator Attack Survival Story. However, the park management limits the maximum boat motor to 20 horsepower. Apart from the bite marks and losing blood, La Verde had experienced multiple injuries on his shoulders and back and severe nerve damage on the right side of his face. Lake Thonotosassa is in Hillsborough County, near Tampa. Lake Manatee park offers visitors several activities, including spotting several species of wildlife, including bobcats, quail, deer, and gopher tortoises. It is also a private lake located 33 feet above sea level. In July, an elderly woman died after falling into a lake and being grabbed by two alligators in Florida. In an interview with WFTS-TV, La Verde, a former U.S. Air Force pararescueman, recalled the moment he knew he was under attack. 15402 N US Highway 301, Thonotosassa, FL 33592-2318. Click for details. Lake Manatee also serves as a freshwater reservoir for Sarasota and Manatee counties. Florida man bitten on face by alligator during lake swim Lake Thonotosassa is located in Hillsborough County near Tampa. Visitors can canoe, kayak, and ride bikes and golf cart rentals in the park. Man bitten in the face by alligator while swimming in Lake Thonotosassa, helps people who suffer with depression and anxiety, climbed the equivalent height of Mount Everest. Lake Thonotosassa resident Jamie Slatton told FOX 13 that he's never heard of an alligator attack on the lake, but mentioned that there has been a nuisance gator in recent months that trappers . This is a generic photo of Lake Thonotosassa and does not show the specific site of the attack. Pine flatwoods cover a significant proportion of the park, although hardwood and sand pine forests are also found within the park. Juan Carlos La Verde, 34, was swimming at the lake outside Tampa when, according to . He recalls feeling the reptiles teeth and tongue piercing his face, upper body, and skull. See all waterbodies on an interactive map: Explore Waterbodies on an Interactive Map. Did you encounter any technical issues? Wake up to the day's most important news. Justin Garcia The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said agents contracted a nuisance alligator trapper at the location, but there has been no word if the specific gator has been captured. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It covers 2,400 acres and extends three miles from the southern section of the beautiful lake. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. He figured out that his camp was on the opposite side of the lake and decided to swim across rather than walk around it. News outlets in early August shared the story of a 12-foot alligator attacking Juan Carlos La Verde. The US government relocated many Seminole Indians to the area around the lake during the 19th-century Seminole Wars. "I just heard a scream and I looked up, and I didnt see anything," a witness said. The natives sourced spearheads, arrowheads, and other tools from lake mines. 'I Just Heard a Scream': Alligator Bites Florida Man on Face - Newsweek The third attack incident involving alligators occurred in this lake. THONOTOSASSA, Fla. - For the fourth time in the last three weeks, someone in the Tampa Bay region has been attacked by an alligator. Juan Carlos La Verde poses with his wife, Christine, inside their living room. In July, an elderly woman died after falling into a lake and being grabbed by two . FWC said the alligator bit the person at Lake Thonotosassa. The dam was constructed sometime in the 1960s. Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox. HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (CW44 News At 10 | CNN) -- An alligator bit a man's face while he was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa in Florida, according to officials. European immigrants later settled in the place. There are no roads that cross it, but the four roads that go around it are: Taylor Road/Fort King Highway (west), Thonotosassa Road . But said theres been a nuisance gator causing issues, and for the last four months a trapper has been out repeatedly to try and remove it.