Alligators only attack when threatened or cornered, but if a human is in water with alligators, it may entice them. CNN A Florida woman is recovering from injuries she received when she was attacked by a 10-foot, 4-inch alligator while trimming trees in Fort Myers. Rattlesnakes:What to know if you're bitten by a rattlesnake, Bears:What should you do if you see a bear? Alligators are found throughout the Southeast and wetlands, with their range stretching as far west as eastern Texas, and as far east as coastal North Carolina, according toThe National Wildlife Federation. 10-foot gator at the golf community grabbed the 85-year-old woman by the foot, "I saw the gator grab her." Gloria Serge, 85, was walking her dog on Feb. 20 when an 11-foot alligator grabbed the dog. Today, we have a video to show you how scary these huge reptiles can be. NBC 6's Amanda Plasencia reports. And people who are golfers sometimes see them in the water, or basking in the sunlight during the daytime, but they've not been bothered by them because they keep their distance., 911 woes:Significant shortage of dispatchers at some Treasure Coast first responder agencies. Read this subscriber-only article for free! Its horrible for her family. In 2021, seven people received major bites and two received minor bites from alligators, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Moments before fatal Florida gator attack on 85-year-old woman caught Closely supervise children when they are playing in or around water. Under the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP), the FWC aims "to proactively address alligator threats in developed areas, while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur.". It is illegal and dangerous to do so. The incident took place . In 2021, nearly 9,500 nuisance alligators described as being at least 4 feet in length and posing "a threat to people, pets or property" were killed in the state. Alligator attack details in Florida: Woman walking her dog dies after A nuisance alligator trapper was dispatched to St. Lucie County following the tragic incident, according to the FWC. No one answered the door Tuesday or Thursday at Serges listed address on Aguila Avenue. We were able to get a second hook in him and a hard line in him so we could get him up., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Alligator pulled from Prospect Park lake swallowed 4-inch wide bathtub stopper: officials, Disturbing 911 audio from fatal Florida alligator attack released: Got her!, 700-pound alligator kills Florida woman, 85, who tried to save dog, Workers stunned as four-foot alligator is hauled from Brooklyns Prospect Park Lake, near where kids play. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of the victim, the commission said in a statement Monday. Alligators prefer freshwater lakes and slow-moving rivers, according to the agency. Mazzoti added alligators "don't perceive humans as either a threat or as food.". The alligator, a local fixture known as Henry, was trapped and put down. At least four people have been killed in alligator attacks in 2022. Alligator Attack: Tips By a Wildlife Expert on How to Prevent a Gator The state of Florida, where most attacks and deaths occur, began keeping records of alligator attacks in 1948. If an alligator attacks, experts say to poke at its eyes and punch and kick it around the head. Observe and photograph alligators only from a safe distance. Gloria Serge was by a retention pond behind her house in Fort Pierce, Florida, on Monday when the 10-foot-long alligator crawled up from the . They can be found in practically all fresh and brackish water bodies and occasionally in salt water. News Alligator attack Alligator Tampa Florida. Frantic 911 Call Released After Alligator Fatally Attacked Florida Woman, 85, Florida Alligator Stuck in Pond with Her Mouth Taped Shut Is Rescued and Freed After 2 Months, Fla. Man Hospitalized After Alligator Bites His Face During Swim Near Tampa, 10-Ft. Alligator Spotted on a Florida Beach, Elderly Florida Woman Killed by 2 Alligators After Falling into a Pond Near Her Home, Man Killed in Suspected Alligator Attack While Looking for Frisbees at Florida Park, Police Say, Florida Man, 59, Killed in Car Crash After Colliding with 11-Foot Alligatorin Roadway, Fla. Man Attacked by 7-Foot Alligator Outside Motel After Mistaking It For a Dog, Florida Woman Suffers 'Severe Injuries' After She Falls into Canal and Is Attacked by Alligator, 250 Gators Have Been Removed from Disney Property in Fla. An 85-year old woman was attacked and killed by an alligator on Monday in Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE. Thomas spoke Tuesday, a day after an 85-year-old neighbor out with her dog died following an alligator encounter in the Spanish Lakes Fairways community in St. Lucie County, Florida. Officials at Spanish Lakes Fairways declined to comment Tuesday. 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. Experts from the University of Florida say to run in a straight line if an alligator is chasing you. An attack that gained national attention was the death of 2-year-old Lane Graves, which happened almost seven years ago. 85-year-old woman killed by alligator in Florida - ABC News Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Fatal alligator attack in Florida: 3 more gators removed from Alligator bites often result in serious infection. 10-foot alligator kills an 85-year-old Florida woman who was on a walk Florida has a population of 1.3 million alligators across its 67 counties, and they can be found in. The 27-year-old woman was trimming by. "It was about a foot away from the water," Ray said. In 2020, there were eight major and four minor gator bites here. Both his parents rushed to his aid but were unable to save their son. The clip shows a huge alligator trying to pass through a fence to get to the other side. An 85-year-old woman who was walking her dog by a pond near her home in Fort Pierce, Fla., was killed when an alligator dragged her into the water on Monday, the authorities said . With a population of just under 48,000, it is the oldest city on the Treasure Coast. The video showed how the 3m-long reptile silently followed her and her dog from afar before it finally surged out of the lake and lunged at the pooch called Trooper. Dogs are more susceptible to being bitten than humans because dogs resemble the natural prey of alligators. Alligator attacks often happen when "people do not pay close attention to their . Tracey Harrington McCoy is a celebrity news writer at PEOPLE Digital. Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter:@jordan_mendoza5. All rights reserved. Alligator attacks are very rare, even in Louisiana and Florida. In their statement to PEOPLE, the FWC said the organization "places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) to address complaints concerning specific alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property.". Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Parker said dogs and cats can appear like an alligator's natural prey, prompting attacks. An alligator may be considered a nuisance if it's at least 4 feet in length and believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property. Do not allow pets to swim, exercise or drink in or near waters that may contain alligators or in designated swimming areas with humans. The woman was recovered and the alligator involved in the incident was captured by a contracted nuisance alligator trapper, the fish and wildlife commission said. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers and St. Lucie County Sheriffs Office deputies were sent to the 6700 block of Picante Circle for what they called an "alligator bite incident" following 911 calls. Males get much larger. I thought, well Ill put that out in the water and hook her or hit him, and she was not there anymore., Helpless, Ms Thomas could only wait. Twenty-six of the bites resulted inpeople being killed by wild alligators. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Gloria Serge's dog survived the attack Monday in Fort Pierce, a state fish and wildlife spokesperson said. Authorities recovered Serge, and a "contracted nuisance alligator trapper" captured and euthanized the large reptile, the official said. (CNN) An 85-year-old woman walking her dog was killed Monday when an alligator pulled her into a nearby retention pond in southeast Florida, according to wildlife officials. Serge, who desperately tried to protect her pet from its massive jaws, was dragged underwater and killed in the shocking attack. The public may view the reports by going to WHDH.com and clicking on "FCC Public File", or by visiting the FCC's website at FCC.org. Seek immediate medical attention if bitten by an alligator. I couldnt get in the water.. It was the fourthdeath from alligator attacks this year after a man was killed looking for Frisbees on May 31 in Florida,another manwas killed near a retention pond in South Carolina on June 24and an 80-year-old Florida woman was killed along a golf course. Oh my God!. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. The creature is most abundant in Louisiana and Florida, with each state having a population of over 1 million alligators. The woman was resting on a sea wall when she fell into the canal,. and it's terrifying. every Florida county. Brigitte Hermann on Feb. 21, 2023, talks about alligators in the lake behind her home a day after Gloria Serge, 85, died in an alligator encounter. The alligator, which was approximately 10 feet long, was caught and euthanized, it added. Alligators can be found in every Florida county. A Florida man is recovering after he was bitten on the head by an alligator while diving for shark teeth in the Myakka River. Meanwhile, a small memorial had been set up in a booth at Loutinas Pizza in the Indrio Crossings Plaza for Serge, who frequented the eatery, according to a worker. And there have only been 23 fatalities between 1948 and 2016. IE 11 is not supported. For reference, you have a better chance of getting attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. He never surfaced. 202120748H. The Ravens of Tampa's Alonso High School . 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? The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call about an alligator attack at a home on Picante Circle in St. Lucie .