CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. — Town authorities are urging swimmers to be cautious Wednesday after a 13-year-old girl was bitten while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean.

Carolina Beach police said the girl was bitten late Tuesday afternoon by an undetermined marine animal while playing in water about 3 feet deep near the Ocean Boulevard beach access.

The girl, from Severn, Md., suffered deep lacerations to her right forearm and wrist. She was transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington for treatment. She was visiting the area along with her family.

Police have not determined what bit the girl. They said there was a lot of marine activity in the water at the time due to the warm water temperatures and that several marine species could have been responsible for the bite.

Town councilors met Wednesday morning with lifeguards and police. They agreed to keep beaches open, though lifeguards planned to increase their monitoring of to beach activities, sightings and conditions, including weather and surf.

Tuesday's incident was the first of its kind reported in Carolina Beach this year. Local marine experts have said that this type of incident is very unusual in this area.

Last year, there was a shark bite reported at Masonboro Island after a surfer jumped from his surf board.