Nuisance alligator encounter temporarily shuts down water activities at Blue Spring State Park

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A potential nuisance alligator encounter closed all water activities at Blue Spring State Park temporarily on Thursday, park officials said.

The Orange City park said it closed the “spring run section” Thursday morning as wildlife officials responded to the incident. The park has since reopened.

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In a since deleted Facebook post, Blue Spring State Park previously said it shut down due to safety and health concerns.

According to park officials, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will continue to monitor all wildlife in the area.

“Park visitors, including boaters and paddlers, are advised to view wildlife from a distance and immediately move away from any alligator that approaches. They are also encouraged to immediately report any aggressive or unusual wildlife behavior to park staff,” park officials said in a statement.

All Florida state park visitors are encourage to consider the following:

• All plants and animals seen within the parks are protected.
• The American alligator is federally protected by the Endangered Species Act as a threatened species and is deemed a federally designated threatened species by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species rule.
• Feeding wildlife and freshwater fish is forbidden under state law.
• Alligators are found throughout Florida and residents can contact FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286 for alligator concerns outside of the park.

Anyone who has questions or concerns is encouraged to contact the park’s office by calling 850-245-2112.

No other information is available at this time. Check back here for updates.

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