"Its usually not the person feeding the gator that gets bit, it's somebody that doesnt even know theres a gator there that ends up getting bit," said ZooTampa Associate Curator of Reptiles & Fish, Dan Costell. A good Samaritan drove La Verde to the hospital. However, when they start being fed, they lose their fear of humans. The man had been swimming in Lake Thonotosassa, towards the northeast of Tampa, when the attack . 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. It also has several trails, the top of which are the Gopher Trail Loop, Lake Manatee East Loop, and the Lake Manatee Loop. A Florida man's swim in Lake Thonotosassa took a nasty turn when he was bitten in the face by an alligator. Four main challenges exist in the Lake Thonotosassa watershed: Nutrient loadings from the watershed have caused extreme nutrient-enrichment resulting in algal blooms. on Its both a tragedy and a miracle at the same time, Ross told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. the FWC in November 2021 stated there were 442 . However, only those with freshwater fishing licenses can engage in these activities. 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. 105 Sampling Locations. Thank you for reading! 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This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2023 FOX Television Stations, until MON 8:00 PM EDT, Pinellas County, Coastal Hillsborough County, Coastal Manatee County, Coastal Sarasota County, Suspected Seminole Heights serial killer Howell Trae Donaldson pleads guilty to 4 murders, Bucs linebacker Shaquil Barrett's 2-year-old daughter drowns in family swimming pool, USF football player arrested for domestic battery, DeSantis board votes to countersue Disney in response to lawsuit, Heart attack survivor competes in St. Anthony's triathlon after hospital saved her life. Wednesday it happened in Hillsborough County. American Indians performed feasts, ceremonies, and marriages in the area. View our Accessibility Statement for more information. The Knights-Griffin Road is at the northern part of the lake, while the McIntosh Road allows you to access the eastern part of the lake. European immigrants later settled in the place. It is unclear if whether or not the man was aware of the danger lurking in the Florida lake, which is a common habitat of the reptiles in the state but also in other inland bodies of water in the United States and other countries worldwide. "I just heard a scream and I looked up, and I didnt see anything," a witness said. The lake gets its name from the Thonotosassa area, a critical quarry for Seminole Indians. Taylor Lake is popular among hikers between Lake Louse and Banff because it does not have much traffic compared to the other parks near these towns. The man was seriously injured after being bitten by the gator while swimming in Lake Thonotosassa. Out of these attacks, 26 were fatal and one fatal injury in nearly every three years, the US media outlet says. A file photo of an alligator with its mouth open. As LaVerde swam alone near the shoreline, drone video shows a massive alligator swimming toward him. Once you walk past the gate, you will see the marked trail to the lake on the right-hand side. News outlets in early August shared the story of a 12-foot alligator attacking Juan Carlos La Verde. Thonotosassa, Lake is a 946 acre, Private lake located in Unincorporated Hillsborough County. It is a challenging but manageable trail. An alligator bit a man at Lake Thonotosassa in Thonotosassa, Florida, shown in a file photo from February 19, 2020. . The park has a camping site located near the lake. A Florida man swimming in a 839-acre lake suffered a frightening attack by an alligator earlier this month. Tampa Bay Restaurant Week is back! Justin Garcia has written for The Nation, Investigative Reporters & Editors Journal, the USA Today Network and various other news outlets. Lake Thonotosassa covers over 800 acres and is the largest in Hillsborough County. Another person was killed by an alligator near a retention pond in South Carolinas Myrtle Beach in June. For the fourth time in the last three weeks, someone in the Tampa Bay region has been attacked by an alligator. A number of these deadly alligator attacks occurred within the lake or its vicinity as people go near them. Are There Alligators in the Mississippi River? Although alligators are naturally afraid of humans, frequent encounters with people sometimes result in injuries and fatalities. You can access these trails from the campground. Lake Thonotosassa is in Hillsborough County, near Tampa. "I didnt know what had happened I thought maybe he hit a rock or maybe there was something that spooked him," he said. An alligator attacked Merda as he swam in Lake Manatee Fish Camp on July 17, 2022, leaving him without an arm. A witness at the scene of the attack said they only heard a scream initially and later, the victim emerged from the water with a "big gash" and taken to the hospital., Viral News, Times Now suffered a frightening attack by an alligator, avoiding weedy areas during nesting and hatching season. There is no more complete source for urban news than the Electronic Urban Report. JC Defeats was rushed to Tampa General Hospital after a gator bit down on his head. Merda was walking solo along one of the trails, took some diversions, and found himself at the shores of Lake Manatee. Alligators naturally live near water bodies, and a large population of alligators lives in Floridas lakes. Subscribe now to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox. Huge Florida Gator Eats a Smaller Florida Gator in Most Florida Video Ever. Lake Lewisville, Texas. The parks management has installed several signs warning visitors to avoid feeding the alligators or swimming in the lake. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received a call about the incident at around 3:45 p.m. Thursday, according to a statement shared with CNN. DeSantis says Disney lawsuit is 'political', By Jim Turner and News Service of Florida. "There's tons of gators in there," said 16-year-old Seth Wynn who fishes on the lake. Juan Carlos La Verde, 34, of Brandon, was swimming in Lake Thonotosassa last Wednesday afternoon when the alligator . COPYRIGHT 2022 EURweb.com/Rabercom Enterprises. Juan Carlos La Verde, of Brandon, was taking a dip in Lake Thonotosassa on Wednesday afternoon when . It is also a private lake located 33 feet above sea level. La Verde attributed his survival to his instincts, luck, and divine intervention. I am perfectly fine. 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. Let us examine three of the lakes where these attacks occurred. 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. What areas in Tampa Bay are best suited for oyster reef restoration? Florida is the unofficial home of alligators, The Best Childrens Books About Alligators: Reviewed and Ranked, camping site along the shores of the lake, alligators were in their mating or nesting season, See a Crocodile Attack Two Male Lions Out for a Swim, Hogtied Gator Gets Last Laugh And Knocks Out Florida Trapper With Huge Headbutt. There are no roads that cross it, but the four roads that go around it are: Taylor Road/Fort King Highway (west), Thonotosassa Road . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); WHO WE AREThe news you want unfiltered.The Electronic Urban Report/EUR puts the most buzz worthy African American news at your fingertips. Drone pilot Matt Ross was filming Juan Carlos La Verde, a firefighter and paramedic, when La Verde suddenly felt a 12-foot gator "pierce" his skin and make his head "pop," per Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. This is a generic photo of Lake Thonotosassa and does not show the specific site of the attack. And I had a med kit in my car so I gave him gauze and an emergency kit to stop the bleeding and then the ambulance showed up.". The freshwater lake is excellent for fishing, boating, kayaking, and canoeing. Merda was visiting the fish camp when he lost his way while strolling in the woods. Only 20 minutes from downtown Tampa, La Verde made an impact with a hard object. The park offers several amenities, including a golf course, a walking trail, and fishing activities on the lake. Under its Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP), the agency has removed nuisance alligators from swimming pools, garages, and other areas within human settlements. 15402 N US Highway 301, Thonotosassa, FL 33592-2318. I get that thats scary, I do, but life is a scary place, so you can carry that load by yourself or have someone carry it for you.. La Verde was recording an instructional film for his organization when the alligator attacked and engulfed his upper body up to his torso area. Click for details. Police suspect that the alligators were in their mating or nesting season when they became most irritable, which explains why they viciously attacked McGuiness. The trail to Taylor Lake starts with a flat area followed by a steady climb towards the lake. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Although experts claim that fatal alligator attacks are rare, multiple related incidents have been recorded in Florida over recent months and years. Hillsborough Bay Watershed. With the right stroke, all I felt was scales, teeth and then right there Im like okay. THONOTOSASSA, Fla. - For the fourth time in the last three weeks, someone in the Tampa Bay region has been attacked by an alligator. When he visits home he enjoys spending time with his family Rottie, Opie. on The man was swimming in lake Thonotosassa, Florida, when he bumped into an alligator with a length of nearly four meters. The only fatality involving a water body occurred when an individual got into the lake while searching for frisbees, also known as disk courses. When he's not writing, Justin likes to make music, read, play basketball and spend time with loved ones. Drone footage shot from above a Florida lake shows the moment a large alligator chomps on a man's head.The victim somehow managed to survive the attack. The FWCestimates there are approximately 1.3 million alligators in Florida living in all of the state's 67 counties, inhabiting all wild areas. Whats the Biggest Alligator Ever Found in the Mississippi River? There have been at least three fatal alligator attacks in the US this year. McGuiness had epilepsy and was diagnosed with a pituitary gland tumor. The FWC, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue all responded to the scene. Copyright 2023 NATURE WORLD NEWS All rights reserved. THONOTOSASSA, Fla. - It is hard to say what is more incredible, that JC Defeats was bitten in the head by an alligator and survived, or that the brutal attack was caught on camera. Find your God. Presented By: A Warner Bros. The man was rushed to Tampa General Hospital around 4 p.m. and deemed to be in critical condition. MORE NEWS ON EURWEB: Alligator Eats Drone That Was Trying to Film A Close Up Of its Mouth Open (Watch). 9. Scroll to read more Tampa Bay News articles. Pine flatwoods cover a significant proportion of the park, although hardwood and sand pine forests are also found within the park. McGuinesss body had three missing limbs, and he is suspected of drowning after getting attacked by the gators. Taylor Lake is a five-acre freshwater lake connected to the 156-acre John S. Park via the Pinellas Trail. Latest Sample 04/29/2023. La Verde, 34, was swimming . La Verde later described the horror of realizing that the beast was swallowing him alive. This witness did not want to go on-camera but said the swimmer was far away and did not seem to be panicking. 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. There have been at least three fatal alligator attacks in the US this year. The FWC says the removal of the dangerous alligators does not pose a significant impact to its population. Learn about the habitat restoration assessment, design, and techniques that have been successfully utilized over the past four decades to restore coastal ecosystems in Tampa Bay. Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, which explains why cases of them attacking humans are rare. He even heard a popping sound when the animals jaw snapped. Lake Manatee park offers visitors several activities, including spotting several species of wildlife, including bobcats, quail, deer, and gopher tortoises. "Trapping efforts are ongoing at Lake Thonotosassa following this incident. Some incidents transpired inside golf course areas and gated communities where the murky is also resided by the reptilians. The USF Water Institute is committed to ensuring that our websites conform with Accessibility Support guidelines for people who need to use assistive technologies. However, La Verde is still looking up despite the scary encounter. Despite knowing about the danger of working in the alligator-infested lake, he never seemed bothered by the threat, despite not having health insurance. Thonotosassa Road lies on the southern part of the lake, while the Taylor Highway is on its western side. They are followed by Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina in terms of the number of related gator attacks. The third attack incident involving alligators occurred in this lake. The bite was enough to crush a portion of La Verdes skull and break his jaw. His assistant, who was filming the instructional video, captured the horrific attack using a drone that he was flying overhead. Alternatively, use the Waterbody Search page to view all waterbodies in a sortable and filterable list. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received a call about the . Although the lakes name suggests that one will see a lot of manatees, visitors will not see any at the park because the dam prevents them from reaching the lake. #2 of 9 things to do in Thonotosassa. 222,553 Samples. We welcome user submissions of documents, organizations, videos, etc. The Florida Fish and Wildlife . That object turned out to be an alligator swimming underwater coming at him. You can capture various fish species, including speckled perch, sunshine bass, catfish, shell cracker, and bluegill. An edition of: WaterAtlas.org The man was seriously injured after being bitten by the gator while swimming in Lake Thonotosassa. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. And a Florida man was killed by an alligator while searching for Frisbees in a lake in late May. Ross, who unknowingly captured the attack from above, said he couldnt believe La Verde survived the encounter. Increased abundance of non-native plant species. 2023 Cable News Network. He swam until he got to a home across the attack area. Did you encounter any technical issues? An alligator bit a man at Lake Thonotosassa in Thonotosassa, Florida, shown in a file photo from February 19, 2020. appreciated. A Florida man was hospitalized last week after an alligator bit him in the face.