LARGO – man found dead in lake in John S. Taylor Park on Authorities said he may have been bitten by an alligator on Tuesday.
Lake next on the disc golf course. Largo police said the man is believed to have entered the water to retrieve the flying discs.
People spotted an alligator next to its body, and local authorities called on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for helpThis was stated by the official representative of the officer Forest Rothschild. for law enforcement wing of the Conservation Commission.
According to Rothschild, investigators initially believed the man had drowned. But when they answered around 9:30 am, they saw that he had other possible injury.
Police did not publicly identify the man, saying officers were still trying to notify him. family early Tuesday. Rothschild said the man was 47 years old.
People shouldn’t swim in water that the Largo police named Taylor Lake. Authorities said there were no “No Swimming” signs posted around the park.
The catcher tried capture alligator on Tuesday, according to the Conservation Commission. But Rothschild said the alligator was never caught. of around noon. Investigators were still trying to determine what, if any, role animal played in male death.
Charlie Goodpasture, 34, owner of PureLine disc golf in Pinellas Park and a professional disc golfer say the Taylor Park course is great. in part because of Wildlife.
“When people come to town it’s one of courses that I indicate people to see the attraction of big alligators, he said. “This is what I’m warning people about when they come to town, just because us locals know that there are quite a lot of alligators.
Goodpasture said he thought he knew the man. who died and the person was probably looking for for resale discs. High quality disc cost about $20-$30 new according to Goodpasture.
Ken Hostnick, 56, said he played disc golf in Taylor Park. for many years. He was there on Tuesday chatting up Another players and share tips for how to toss disk.
Host said no know that man who dead but aware of people who try to collect the lost disks.
“It people which down on their luck,” he said. “Sometimes they dive in lakes, they will pull out 40 discs. you can sell them for five bucks a piece and you can sell it for 10 bucks a piece, depending on quality.”
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Another man who retrieved discs was bitten in in face alligator on taylor lake in 2020. At the time, a state official stated that no other alligator attacks had been reported. in a park for at least 10 years.
Alligators are everywhere in Florida, swimming and sunbathing around lakes, ponds, rivers and golf courses. But attacks are rare. As of last November, not confirmed fatal alligator bites have been documented in state as of 2019, according to the Conservation Commission.
The park was quiet on Tuesday afternoon as investigators searched for for alligator in a small chapter of disc golf course cordoned off off on police tape. Visitors walked and rode bicycles on the lake, bordered by swampy grass. Dragonflies buzzed in thick, noon heat.
People should save them distance from wild alligators and don’t feed them, the state says. The mating season for alligators lasts from May to June.
Anyone concerned about a particular alligator is highly recommended call Conservation Commission for Problem Alligators Hotline: 866-392-4286.
Times staff correspondent Josh Fiallo contributed to this report.
