LARGO, Fla. — A man was attacked by an alligator early Monday morning in Largo.
Largo police said the man was waist-deep in water at the disc golf course at Taylor Park when he was bitten in the face.
It happened around 5 a.m., according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The 40-year-old man used his left hand to pry the gator off, but he received severe lacerations to his hand and face, officers said. Police said he is expected to survive the bite.
The FWC responded to take care of the alligator.
The attack happened during alligator mating season when alligators have been known to be more aggressive.
During the mating season of June 2018, a 12 and a-half-foot gator pulled a woman into a Florida pond and killed her.
From 1948 to 2017, FWC reports 401 people have been bitten by alligators, with 24 of them being deadly.
The FWC says people should never feed alligators and to keep their distance if they see one. People can also stay safe by only swimming in designated swimming areas and keeping pets away from the water.
You can read more about living with alligators on FWC's website.
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