Kayakers attacked by gargantuan bull gator, forcing popular Florida waterway to close

We’re going to need a bigger canoe.A mammoth and aggressive alligator in Ocala National Forest has been attacking paddlers, forcing wildlife officials to close a popular recreational waterway indefinitely. Kayakers and canoers have narrowly escaped with their lives after the aggressive 14-foot “bull gator” has rammed their boats in Juniper Springs, one of Florida’s most popular natural springs, according to reports and officials.The kayakers and canoers have reported terrifying run-ins with the alligator according to Fox 35, a 14-foot male most likely protecting its eggs since its mating season. The recent attacks have forced wildlife officials to close a boat ramp in one of the forest’s most visited springs.A chain with a metal sign that reads “closed” hangs in front of the boat ramp to Juniper Springs. “To help prevent human interaction and disruption, the Forest Supervisor and Ocala district ranger decided to give this alligator his space for the time being,” officials from the U.S.

Forest Service wrote in a statement posted on social media.“Thanks for respecting our wildlife!”Juniper Springs is an historic site famous for its clear spring waters, lush subtropical forest and hundreds of bubbling vents and creeks, according to CBS News.

It was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and is a popular destination for thousands of visitors each year.The gargantuan gator did not cause any injuries in the attacks – yet – but  has “actively made contact with canoes and kayaks,” the agency saidIn light of the close calls, officials cautioned kayakers and canoeists to avoid the area where the “bull gator” is keeping an eye on his soon to be babies. The attacks come in the wake of a fatal encounter earlier this month, when an alligator in Kissimmee State Park capsized a kayak and killed a woman despite her husband’s desperate efforts to fight the reptile off.Alligator mating season runs from April through June and i...