A woman was killed in. "She was walking her little dog, and the gator grabbed the dog," the neighbor added. But dangerous human-gator interactions are starting to happen more frequently because people are moving deeper into alligators habitat, says University of Florida professor Frank Mazzotti. Kilborn urged people to follow these safety tips: alligators are most active at night, so only swim in designated swimming areas during daylight hours; never feed an alligator; and keep your pets on a leash and away from the water's edge. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says, you have a better chance of getting attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park, Hot, hungry alligators are taking lonely strolls in Florida, meaning there could be an increase in alligator activity, Alligators have a natural fear of humans and usually will retreat when approached, Texas Parks and Wildlife says, Experts from the University of Florida say, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. June 25, 2022 / 2:26 PM / CBS News. And you know, she's been alone. Deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, authorities said. She stated her husband tried to save her friend, but the alligator dragged her under the water, the report said. Despite what seems to be increasing frequency, Mazzotti says attacks are still remarkably rare, considering the number of alligators in southeastern U.S. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Alligators do not have an instinct to attack humans, he says. The pond in which the body was found is surrounded by houses on all sides, said Major Viens, noting that it was the second alligator attack in the gated community in five years. Covert, of Johns Island, made no sound as the alligator pulled her under, the woman told police. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is investigating the incident, the latest in a small string of fatal alligator attacks this summer. ': Hot, hungry alligators are taking lonely strolls in Florida. Newly acquired data from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources suggests there has been an increase in the number of alligator encounters in the Palmetto State . An alligator lays in the grass in Myrtle Beach, S.C., April 29, 2003. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. He adds: Dont let your dog run free. a man was killed looking for Frisbees on May 31 in Florida, another manwas killed near a retention pond in South Carolina on June 24, an 80-year-old Florida woman was killed along a golf course, run-ins with the reptiles near their homes, What to know if you're bitten by a rattlesnake, What should you do if you see a bear? Alligator Attacks and Kills Florida Woman, 85, Who Was Walking Her Dog. The body of an 88-year-old woman was found near a pond in a gated community near Hilton Head, South Carolina, after what authorities suspect was an alligator attack. Alligator Fatally Attacks Man at the Edge of a South Carolina Pond, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/26/us/myrtle-beach-fatal-alligator-attack.html. Authorities say the woman "died as a result of the incident" and that her body was recovered, according to a statement previously obtained by PEOPLE from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. While mating season brings an increase in their movement around May and June, alligator movement this time of year tends to be among waterways. In an extremely rare event, a South Carolina woman was killed in an alligator attack Friday on Kiawah Island, according to the Charleston County Sheriffs Office. Last week, an alligator attacked and ate a 40-pound dog that was playing fetch with his owner in Florida's J.R. Alford Greenway Trail. Florida is known to be the home of alligators, and residents have numerous run-ins with the reptiles near their homes, golf courses or roads. The woman found dead in an alligator attack in Sun City Hilton Head on Monday has been identified as an 88-year-old resident of the community, according to the Beaufort County Coroner's Office . "Our prayers go out to the loved ones of the victim and the Spanish Lakes' residents who knew the victim and witnessed the attack," Sheriff Ken Mascara said in a statement shared on social media. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. Alligators tend to be more active at night, Mr. Butfiloski said, and come out around dusk. As friends tried to yank her from the alligators grasp, she calmly said, I guess I wont do this again, moments before the alligator rolled and pulled her under the water, the newspaper reported. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The victim has not been identified. Sun City Hilton Head, a residential community for older adults that has many ponds, is about 15 miles west of Hilton Head Island and covers roughly nine square miles. Sure, the baby alligator is certainly not a common sight at the popular coffee shop. Elderly South Carolina Woman Killed by an Alligator After Falling into Pond. Such attacks are rare in the United States, typically occurring about once a year, but the latest one on Friday was the second in less than a month. It was at. In many instances, there are several of factors that contribute to an alligator attack. Anyone can read what you share. Please enter valid email address to continue. South Carolina has been home to over 100,000 alligators. It was no walk in the park for a South Carolina man who saved his dog from an alligator attack during a morning stroll. Alligator attacks, like one after which a woman was found dead near Hilton Head Island, S.C., are rare but not surprising, said Maj. Angela Viens of the Beaufort County sheriffs office. An investigation into the death is continuing, the police said. All rights reserved. Before Fridays deadly attack, the most recent incident was a 44-year-old teacher in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina who was killed by an alligator while walking her dog near a lagoon in the gated community of Sea Pines. Responders found the gator "guarding" Becker, officials said. First published on August 15, 2022 / 7:30 PM. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Alligator attacks in South Carolina have increased, likely because of human activities. Mazzotti says he believes a major factor in Clines death was her dog, which alligators perceive as food. "Splashing in the water will attract analligators interest, and if it perceives at that point in time that there's something smaller and weaker in the water, it might attack it," Mazzoti said. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near a pond in Sun City Hilton Head, an adult-only community, and slipped in, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Natural Resources. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, a statement from the Horry County Police Department. or redistributed. Leanne Golino. The alligator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, was later captured, removed from the pond and euthanized, officials said. "He's so frightened," she told the operator. During the call, the neighbor also went to go get the dog. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. However, alligators may be more inclined to approach humans if fed by one, which is why it's illegal to do so in many states. According to the report, Covert's friend yelled at her not to get closer, but she continued off the back steps towards where the alligator was located, CBS affiliate WCSC reported. Once officers arrived on the scene, officials determined that "an alligator had taken hold of a neighbor and retreated into a nearby retention pond," a statement from the Horry County Police Department said. She saw an alligator and was fascinated by it and went to touch it, against her friends warning. Her death has been. Jurors on Wednesday visited the South Carolina estate where prosecutors say disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh shot and killed his wife and son, touring the crime scene before . The unnamed victim was found last Friday around 11:45 a.m. near Excalaber Court outside of . Alligators only attack when threatened or cornered, but if a human is in water with alligators, it may entice them. Gator attack:A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroners Office said. A biologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and an alligator-removal contractor determined that the animal needed to be humanely euthanized on site, the police said. That said, South Carolina's Post and Courier reports that the state recorded five deaths resulting from alligator attacks between 2016 and 2022 but none in the previous 16 years. This was the first fatal attack in the state by an alligator since May 2020. They aren't the only run-ins people have had with the creatures. When Covert was about four feet from the edge of the water, the alligator attacked and dragged her into the water, according to the incident report. The victim, identified as Cynthia Covert, was dragged into a pond behind her friend's home on Kiawah Island, near Charleston, and said calmly, "I guess I won't do this again," as her friend tried to pull her away from the alligator. Initially, the Horry County Fire Rescue was dispatched at 11:54 a.m. to a water-related call in the area of Excalibur Court in Myrtle Beach, a statement from the department said. Covert, of Johns Island, made no sound as the alligator pulled her under, the woman told police. Everybody treats them with a healthy respect. "I can't see her.". Aug. 15, 2022 The body of an 88-year-old woman who was killed by an alligator was discovered on Monday in a pond in a gated community near Hilton Head Island, S.C., officials said. Just off of Cape Point this 1,500 shark was spotted on February 28th. CLICK HERE. 1 Dead in Fatal Alligator Attack at South Carolina Retention Pond Near Myrtle Beach. In an interview on Sunday, Mr. Repak said it was common to watch alligators walk on a road over a pair of retention ponds. A giant alligator weighing nearly 1,000 pounds was caught in Lake Marion. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Nationally, between 1948 and August 2004, 376 injuries and 15 deaths as a result of alligator encounters were reported in the U.S., which means one reported death every three to four years,according to a 2004 studyin the peer-revieWilderness & Environmental Medicine journal. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States, typically occurring about once a year, but the latest was the second in less than a month. According to SCDNR South Carolina has had only three fatal alligator attacks in its recorded history and each occurred within the last four years. Got a tip for a story? FLORIDA WOMAN ATTACKED BY ALLIGATORS AT COUNTRY CLUB IDENTIFIED. Florida had an. Because theyre cold blooded animals, they regulate their body temperature as best they can based on the environment, he said. 8/16/2022. An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroner's Office said. Market data provided by Factset. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? You try to maintain distance from the banks, and when you see them out, you admire them from afar. Cline was walking her dog alongside a lagoon adjacent to the Sea Pines Resort golf course when she was attacked about 9:30 a.m. Sea Pine, a 5,200-square-foot gated community, was built in 1957 and is located at the southern tip of Hilton Head Island. She kept yelling as Covert crept closer to the gator. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Last summer, a 68-year-old woman was hospitalized after an alligator attack in Sun City-Hilton Head, the Island Packet repotted. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Noting that serious injuries caused by alligator attacks are rare in state, the FWC said in a statement that anyone with concerns should call their toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR(866-392-4286). The following day, a person walking their dog discovered McGuiness' body along the lake's shoreline. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Weve always looked at the alligators as a part of the community, he said. The creature is most abundant in Louisiana and Florida, with each state having a population of over 1 million alligators. This marks the fifth alligator death in South Carolina since 2000, according to the Department of Natural Resources and the sheriff's office. However, this is the second fatal attack in a month. A woman in South Carolina was killed by an alligator Monday, the state's second deadly attack this year, authorities said.The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and other emergency services were at . The officers were called to a pond on Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. and saw. My prayers and heart go out to the family as my arms wrap tighter around my kids and dogs near these ponds.. As of August, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. A woman killed by an alligator at a South Carolina pond told a friend she wanted to get close to the animal and didn't scream as it attacked her and dragged her . Why Deadly Alligator Attacks Like South Carolina Are a Growing Trend. A baby alligator was spotted running on the loose outside of a South Carolina Starbucks recently. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. "I see her," the neighbor said with audible emotion in her voice. Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter:@jordan_mendoza5. Officials identified the woman as Nancy A. Becker, a resident of Sun City Hilton Head, who they believe was gardening near the pond and slipped into the water, where she was attacked by the alligator. Please enter valid email address to continue. "And then her husband, he was in charge with bocce years ago, and he passed away. 1:39 A person in South Carolina was killed by an alligator Friday near a community retention pond outside Myrtle Beach, authorities said. "It's too late," the neighbor said. Covert never screamed during the deadly attack, the woman told police. The unidentified woman. In Fridays killing, the authorities responded around 11:45 a.m. to a water-rescue call, the Horry County Police Department said in a statement. You can induce a gator's gag reflex by jamming objects in the back of its mouth, and when it tries to reposition prey in its mouth, that's your chance to escape. Over the course of the phone call, which lasted for over eight minutes, the neighbor said she had gone to get a pole to rescue the woman after the attack. SCDNR officials have estimated that 100,000 alligators live in South Carolina. This attack is the fourth reported in Charleston County history, according to SCDNR records. In July, a 75-year-old Callawassie Island woman was trimming plants near a community pond when an alligator latched onto her and pulled her into . 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. In South Carolina, they can be found in the states coastal marshlands, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Authorities previously confirmed to PEOPLE that Gloria Serge was "walking her small dog along a retention pool" in the Ft. Pierce community where she lived when an alligator, estimated to be around 10-feet long, "pulled her into the water.". Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said. Photo: Getty. 14 of those attacks occurred in Beaufort County according to SCDNR records. By Gina Martinez August 21, 2018 4:16 PM EDT. Witness To Fatal SC Alligator Attack Said Victim Was 4 Feet From Pond And Warned Of Danger, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, 100,000 alligators live in South Carolina, South Carolina Beach Access Battle: Lowcountry Residents Turning On Each Other, SC Coronavirus: Projected Death Toll Skyrockets As Cases Climb, LIVE FEED Murdaugh Murders Trial: Day Twenty-Seven, South Carolina Freedom Caucus Files Lawsuit, Murdaugh Murders Trial: Attorney General Stands And Delivers. A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. A person in South Carolina was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach on Friday, authorities said. It was at least the fourth deadly alligator attack in the United States so far this year. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) officials urge residents and tourists to never feed alligators as it makes them more aggressive toward humans. The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance. A woman killed by an alligator at a South Carolina pond told a friend she wanted to get close to the animal and didn't scream as it attacked her and dragged her into the water, according to a police report. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Magazines, Digital ", RELATED VIDEO: Officials Say Shark Attacked Woman Who Vanished While Snorkeling with Husband, Blast 'Conspiracy Theories'. Alligators will often reposition its bite, take advantage of that to get away. The death on Friday was the first from an alligator attack in South Carolina since May 2020, when 58-year-old Cynthia Covert was dragged into a pond behind her friends home on Kiawah Island, near Charleston, according to The Post and Courier. May is mating season for alligators in South Carolina, which means alligators are more active this time of the year. A 90-year-old woman walked out of a Charleston nursing home in 2016 andwas killed, while a 45-year-old woman walking her dog wasfatally attacked on Hilton Head Islandin August 2018. After repeatedly saying there was still no sight of the woman in the water, the neighbor then saw her body resurface. Don't turn and run, expert warns. But fatal gator attacks are rare. Theyre a part of nature., He called Fridays death a tragic, freak accident.. This same shark off the coast of the Outer Banks began its tracking in . In 2018, an eight-foot-long . Got a technical question or a glitch to report? Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. When we got there thats exactly what we found, said Maj. Angela Viens, a public information officer with the Beaufort County sheriffs office. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. This is the first deadly alligator attack in the state since May 2020, according to authorities. Developer Charles Fraser founded both the Sea Pines and Kiawah Island resort communities, which were built on the concept that communities could be developed while the wildlife preserved. The dog survived the attack, per the FWC. The Florida conservation commission said in November 2021 there were 442 unprovoked alligator bites in Florida from 1948 to 2021, averaging six a year. A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. The victim was recovered from the pond, and the alligator was removed and euthanized on site. There could be more that we arent aware of, SCDNR alligator program director, Jay Butfiloski previously said,. According to police, the victim, identified as Sean Thomas McGuinness, 47, was believed to have entered the lake at night. The latest was at least the fourth in the United States since May and the second this year in South Carolina. Messages left for the department were not immediately returned on Sunday. If a person is in the unfortunate situation where an alligator attacks a pet, Mazzotti says its best not to get in the alligators way. The animal latched onto Covert's left leg and began pulling her into. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. "With how many people there are and how many alligators there are, it's really surprising it doesn't happen more often,"Frank Mazzotti, professor of wildlife ecology and member of the "Croc Docs" at the University of Florida, told USA TODAY. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital ", "She played cards," Sandy Sauers, a friend, told WPBF. The last fatal alligator attack to occur in South Carolina was in May 2020, when a 58-year-old woman saw an alligator and went to touch it, despite her friend's warnings, according to The Post and Courier. It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near a pond in Sun City Hilton Head, an adult-only community, and slipped in, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Natural Resources. Now and then, he will see photos in the local news media of an alligator out and about, he said. The police believe that Mr. McGuinness, 47, had entered the lake in John S. Taylor Park at night. The woman was walking her dog around a Hilton Head. KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) Authorities say deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman. She survived the incident. Updated on: August 15, 2022 / 7:34 PM Associate Editor, Human Interest - PEOPLE. Mazzoti said you're more than likely to drown in water than be attacked by an alligator. ABC 15 By Vimal Patel June 26, 2022 A man was killed on Friday after being dragged into a. The woman's body was recovered about two hours later, and as of 4 p.m. local time the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources remained on the scene attempting to locate and remove the alligator from the pond, police said. All rights reserved. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. A deputy shot and killed an alligator closest to the womans body upon arrival to the scene. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is investigating an alligator attack that left one person dead in Sun City. His recommendation for anyone who does get attacked by an alligator: Fight like your life depends on it., Poke the gator in the eyes and try to ram your hand down its throat, he advises. Treat your dog like you would treat your child.. A good comparison would be that a dog is like what a bowl of pasta or chicken is to a human, when an alligator sees a dog they see their next meal, he says. If an alligator attacks, experts say to poke at its eyes and punch and kick it around the head. An officer observed the alligator and the victim surface in the water, the report said. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal, according to the police report released Monday. Jason Repak, who lives in the same community as the victim, snapped a photo of three alligators behind his condominium last month and posted it on social media. The gator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, has been euthanized, officials said. Officials have released a 911 call made after an alligator fatally attacked an 85-year-old woman in Florida earlier this week. Covert was pulled under the water shortly after, the report read. The area in the Outer Banks is a favorite hangout spot for great white sharks, apparently. The witness said Covert was not acting like her normal self. She said she was cleaning up and noticed her friend on the back steps, very close to the alligator. A man was killed after he was attacked and dragged into a pond in South Carolina by an 11-foot alligator, officials said. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States. Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said. Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies said. The deadly attack, in a gated community near Hilton Head Island, S.C., was at least the fourth in the country this year. Texas Parks and Wildlifesays a safe distance away from an alligator is at least 30 feet, and while extremely rare for them to chase humans, they can run up to 35 mph for a short period of time. Hilton Head Island residents share the roads with 2,000 - 4,000 alligators - who use an "alligator crossing" to cross busy roads. The last reported case of a fatal alligator attack in the U.S was in June. Universal Images Group via Getty Images, FILE. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The first one was not fatal, she added. When it gets really hot in the summer, a lot of time theyll spend time below the water, where its cooler.. A person in South Carolina was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach on Friday, authorities said. While he was unaware of the details of Mondays alligator attack, Mr. Butfiloski said that such attacks typically happen when a person is near the edge of a body of water, and occur more frequently when a person is accompanied by a pet. The womans husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. An 80-year-old woman was killed by two alligators in Englewood, Fla., in July; a man who had been retrieving Frisbees from a lake in Largo, Fla., was killed in May; and in June, a man was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Officials said there had been 18 alligator-related episodes and five deaths reported in South Carolina since 2000. The Associated Press. There were an average of about 10 alligator bites a year in the 2010s, compared with an average of eight a year in the 1980s. Charleston County harvested at least 162 alligators between 2017- 2018, while Beaufort County harvested 104 in that time. Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies said. The giant reptile was captured and euthanized on site. Police were notified around 11 . An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. A South Carolina woman was attacked by an eight-foot-long alligator while walking her dog on Thursday morning. A South Carolina woman was rescued by a neighbor Thursday morning during a violent alligator attack in the state, authorities said. Theyre not going to chase you down the fairway in these golfing communities., Alligator Kills 88-Year-Old Woman in South Carolina, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/15/us/alligator-attack-south-carolina.html. Threatened or cornered, but the animal latched onto Covert & # x27 ; s left leg began... The last four years mazzoti said you 're more than likely to drown in water than attacked... Carolina have increased, likely because of human activities cornered, but the latched... Delayed by at least the fourth reported in Charleston County Coroner 's Office said leg and pulling! 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