Everybody treats them with a healthy respect. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, Why Deadly Alligator Attacks Like South Carolina Are a Growing Trend. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. One officer was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced again, police said. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, according to the Charleston County Sheriffs Office. by Mandy Matney May 4, 2020. On Monday morning police responded to a report of an alligator attack at a pond inside the Sun City . Rescuers determined that an alligator took hold of a neighbor who was near the edge of a retention pond and retreated into it, the department said in a statement. People building homes where alligators live have caused the increase in attacks, Mazzotti, a wildlife expert with the University of Floridas Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, tells TIME. When we got there thats exactly what we found, said Maj. Angela Viens, a public information officer with the Beaufort County sheriffs office. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. She survived the incident. 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. A baby alligator was spotted running on the loose outside of a South Carolina Starbucks recently. 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. 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? Just off of Cape Point this 1,500 shark was spotted on February 28th. The Associated Press. The Florida conservation commission said in November 2021 there were 442 unprovoked alligator bites in Florida from 1948 to 2021, averaging six a year. ", RELATED VIDEO: Officials Say Shark Attacked Woman Who Vanished While Snorkeling with Husband, Blast 'Conspiracy Theories'. The woman was walking her dog around a Hilton Head. The situation . Messages left for the department were not immediately returned on Sunday. Its unlikely for them to leave the water to come after someone, he said. 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. Treat your dog like you would treat your child.. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. In an interview on Sunday, Mr. Repak said it was common to watch alligators walk on a road over a pair of retention ponds. According to a 2019 University of Florida analysis, venomous injuries largely from contact with hornets, wasps and bees resulted in an average of more than 56 fatalities per year in the United States, compared with about one per year from alligator attacks. Officials have released a 911 call made after an alligator fatally attacked an 85-year-old woman in Florida earlier this week. In July, an elderly woman waskilled by two alligatorsin a pond near her Florida home. 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. The South Carolina woman rescued by her neighbor as she was being attacked by an alligator is the second woman to have been attacked in such a manner on Hilton Head Island in only three years . Charleston County deputies said that officers were called to a . This is the first deadly alligator attack in the state since May 2020, according to authorities. ABC News' Darren Reynolds contributed to this report. My prayers and heart go out to the family as my arms wrap tighter around my kids and dogs near these ponds.. The creature is most abundant in Louisiana and Florida, with each state having a population of over 1 million alligators. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. 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. Also make yourself appear as big as possible, the bigger you appear, the less likely the gator is to engage.. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. ", "She played cards," Sandy Sauers, a friend, told WPBF. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Photo: Getty. 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. By Christian Boschult christian.boschult@myhorrynews.com Jul 15, 2022 0 Alligators like this one. 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. / CBS News. Universal Images Group via Getty Images, FILE. Legal Statement. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. A giant alligator weighing nearly 1,000 pounds was caught in Lake Marion. Alligator Attacks and Kills Florida Woman, 85, Who Was Walking Her Dog, Florida Man Hospitalized After Alligator Bites His Face During Swim Near Tampa, 88-Year-Old S.C. 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May is mating season for alligators in South Carolina, which means alligators are more active this time of the year. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. The body of a man who had been retrieving Frisbees from a lake in Largo, Fla., which serves as a habitat for alligators, was found on May 31. It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near the pond and slipped in. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States. An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroner's Office said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Stephen Benjamin, the former mayor of Columbia, S.C., will be the new senior adviser and director of the Office of Public Engagement, replacing Keisha Lance Bottoms, the White House announced on Monday. The good news for humans: Alligators have a natural fear of humans and usually will retreat when approached, Texas Parks and Wildlife says. Fraser actually marketed the Sea Pines Resort using the allure of alligators. June 25, 2022 / 2:26 PM / CBS News. The Beaufort County Sheriffs Office responded to a 911 call at 11:15 a.m. on Monday from a Sun City Hilton Head resident who reported that a large alligator was guarding a human body. In 2018, an eight-foot-long . Florida, which has the most human-alligator interactions, has recorded 24 deadly alligator attacks since 1948 but 14 of those have occurred in the last 20 years, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data. The fatal alligator attack in South Carolina on Friday was the first in the state since May 2020. 1 Dead in Fatal Alligator Attack at South Carolina Retention Pond Near Myrtle Beach. The victim was identified as 88-year-old Nancy Becker, ABC News reports. 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. Theyre a part of nature., He called Fridays death a tragic, freak accident.. A biologist and a contracted alligator removal service from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources determined the alligator should be humanely euthanized on site, according to police. After repeatedly saying there was still no sight of the woman in the water, the neighbor then saw her body resurface. The first one was not fatal, she added. Magazines, Digital Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. An estimated 5 million wild American alligators live across 10 states in Southeast and beyond - even in the southeastern tip of Oklahoma. Hilton Head Island residents share the roads with 2,000 - 4,000 alligators - who use an "alligator crossing" to cross busy roads. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. And you know, she's been alone. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital May 5, 2020 / 6:24 AM / CBS/AP. Associate Editor, Human Interest - PEOPLE. It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near a pond in Sun City . While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. Alligator attacks are rare but not surprising, Major Viens said of the area. The victim in the May attack in Florida was identified as Sean Thomas McGuinness. But fatal gator attacks are rare. 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. Why Deadly Alligator Attacks Like South Carolina Are a Growing Trend. Please enter valid email address to continue. When officers arrived, they found a large alligator by the edge of a pond near the body of an unidentified woman, 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. An autopsy Monday found Covert died of drowning, the Charleston County Coroners Office said. 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. 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. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The attack occurred near a lagoon on Hilton Head Island on the state's. Experts explain why. Sure, the baby alligator is certainly not a common sight at the popular coffee shop. Despite what seems to be increasing frequency, Mazzotti says attacks are still remarkably rare, considering the number of alligators in southeastern U.S. Alligators tend to be more active at night, Mr. Butfiloski said, and come out around dusk. However, the study at the time cited the need for a "uniform reporting system among states" to get more complete information on alligator encounters. 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. You try to maintain distance from the banks, and when you see them out, you admire them from afar. 14 of those attacks occurred in Beaufort County according to SCDNR records. When it gets really hot in the summer, a lot of time theyll spend time below the water, where its cooler.. 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 . Please enter valid email address to continue. KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. A woman killed by an alligator at a South Carolina pond told a friend she wanted to get close to the animal and didnt scream as it attacked her and dragged her into the water, according to a police report. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The death of Cassandra Cline, a 45-year-old elementary school teacher, who was killed by a 9-foot alligator while protecting her dog on Hilton Head Island Monday made headlines around the world. 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. 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.". CLICK HERE. Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, but will attack in certain instances. The woman's husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. Deputies with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office were notified around 11:15 a.m. about an alligator that looked as if it was "standing guard" beside a . An 88-year-old woman was killed in an alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said, the second fatal attack in the state in 2022 and at least the fourth nationwide this year. A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. Weve always looked at the alligators as a part of the community, he said. 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. The 10-foot alligator, estimated at 400-500 pounds, then attacked Covert, who officials said was 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. It was no walk in the park for a South Carolina man who saved his dog from an alligator attack during a morning stroll. 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. The witness told police that her friend, later identified as 58-year-old Cynthia Covert, of Johns Island, was visiting her home Friday afternoon. By Gina Martinez August 21, 2018 4:16 PM EDT. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is investigating an alligator attack that left one person dead in Sun City. "I see her," the neighbor said with audible emotion in her voice. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal, according to the police report released Monday. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Bipartisan Senate group unveils rail safety bill in response to Ohio derailment, What to know about Shigella bacteria as drug-resistant strain spreads, Woman killed in South Carolina gator attack, Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother, Flying bug found at Walmart turns out to be rare Jurassic-era insect. The fatal alligator attack in South Carolina on Friday was the first in the state since May 2020. Last summer, a 68-year-old woman was hospitalized after an alligator attack in Sun City-Hilton Head, the Island Packet repotted. Updated on: August 15, 2022 / 7:34 PM 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 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. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. After the attack, the FWC said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that the alligator was captured and killed by a contracted nuisance alligator trapper. 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. KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) Authorities say deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Write to Gina Martinez at gina.martinez@time.com. The alligator took hold of a person near the edge of a retention pond on Friday,. Four Fatal Gator Attacks in 76 Days Is a Statistical Anomaly. 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. The officers were called to a pond on Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. and saw. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. An investigation into the death is continuing, the police said. 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. Alligator Attacks and Kills Florida Woman, 85, Who Was Walking Her Dog. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says licensed hunters remove over 1,000 nuisance alligators which are any ones deemeda "threat to pets, livestock or humans" a year, and attack reports in the state are usually just encounters. But, theres a caveat. 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. He adds: Dont let your dog run free. At 2:30 p.m., the department updated its statement to confirm there was no further threat in the area, and that community members may resume normal activities. ". During the call, the neighbor also went to go get the dog. An alligator lays in the grass in Myrtle Beach, S.C., April 29, 2003. The victim was recovered from the pond, and the alligator was removed and euthanized on site. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal, according to the police report released Monday. A person in South Carolina was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach on Friday, authorities said. , was gardening near the pond and slipped in to come after someone, he.! 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