Scottsburg, Indiana (WHAS11) – A 5-year-old girl was attacked by some type of unknown fish on Monday while swimming in a roped-off area at Hardy Lake in southern Indiana.
Some people in the area say this isn't an isolated incident.
WHAS11’s Adam Walser was at Hardy Lake with more on this story.
5-year-old Loralye Daubaugh was doing okay on Tuesday.
On Monday, she was swimming in an area marked off by buoys in Hardy Lake when something bit her thigh.
“It felt like someone was pinching me,” said Loralye.
She wasn't the only one who was bit.
Loralye and her grandmother ran to the concession stand for help, where they learned she wasn't the first child attacked over the weekend.
They were told that a smaller child had also gotten bitten and her leg was also severely bruised.
The incidents now have people in the area wondering exactly what lies just below the water's surface. People have speculated that it could be several different species of fish.
Fishermen speculated that it could be anything from a big carp, to a bowfin to a bass.
The staff believes it may have been a catfish guarding her nest.
And they expect the fish to head back out to deeper water once it's young have hatched.
The park’s director says he expects the offending fish will most likely move on within the next few days.
NOTE: well, those marks on her legs look like a bowfin bite (bowfin skull above). I have caught a few in Pennsylvania lakes over the years...can be very aggressive, especially near a nest. Some catfish can be very aggressive, though I don't know what species of catfish are in this particular lake...Lon
Unknown Fish Attacks Child in Indiana Lake