DUNNELLON, FL (352today.com) – Rainbow Springs State Park reopened yesterday after officials temporarily closed part of the waterway following an alligator bite involving a snorkeler.
The incident occurred the afternoon of Sunday, June 21, 2026, near Sateke Village, a residential community along the Rainbow River in Dunnellon. Marion County Fire Rescue crews responded shortly after noon after receiving a report that a 19-year-old man had been bitten by an alligator while in the water. The victim was treated before being transported to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville. The snorkeler’s current condition has not yet been released.
Following the incident, portions of the waterway and Rainbow Springs State Park were temporarily closed while the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigated the incident and searched for the alligator involved. Marion County Sheriff’s Office assisted in locating the animal, which has since been removed from the area. Authorities reopened the river after the alligator’s removal.
While alligator bites resulting in serious injury are uncommon, FWC reminds residents and visitors that alligators are native to Florida waterways and advises people to keep their distance and to never feed them. They also caution residents to remain away of their surroundings while enjoying natural bodies of water.