When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. 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. Before those attacks, South Carolina had never recorded a person killed by an alligator. May is mating season for alligators in South Carolina, which means alligators are more active this time of the year. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. The dog survived the attack, per the FWC. A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. Charleston County deputies said that officers were called to a . He said the reports come amid an increase in building development and in the number of people moving into areas previously occupied by alligators. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, authorities said. This is the first deadly alligator attack in the state since May 2020, according to authorities. Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies said. A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. A woman was killed in. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. 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. 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. It was at least the fourth deadly alligator attack in the United States so far this year. 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. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. A person died after an alligator dragged them into a pond in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, police said Friday. 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). An investigation into the death is continuing, the police said. Alligator attacks are rare, and there's an even slimmer chance of being killed by one. On Monday morning police responded to a report of an alligator attack at a pond inside the. Please enter valid email address to continue. CNN A person was killed by an alligator near Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, according to police. Leanne Golino. Write to Gina Martinez at gina.martinez@time.com. The womans husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. Charleston County harvested at least 162 alligators between 2017- 2018, while Beaufort County harvested 104 in that time. It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near the pond and slipped in. 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.". or redistributed. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. Alligators tend to be more active at night, Mr. Butfiloski said, and come out around dusk. The attack occurred near a lagoon on Hilton Head Island on the state's. As of August, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Then, the gator bit his leg. By Gina Martinez August 21, 2018 4:16 PM EDT. 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. Anyone can read what you share. You try to maintain distance from the banks, and when you see them out, you admire them from afar. The good news for humans: Alligators have a natural fear of humans and usually will retreat when approached, Texas Parks and Wildlife says. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. 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. According to SCDNR South Carolina has had only three fatal alligator attacks in its recorded history and each occurred within the last four years. FLORIDA WOMAN ATTACKED BY ALLIGATORS AT COUNTRY CLUB IDENTIFIED. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. 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. Covert, of Johns Island, made no sound as the alligator pulled her under, the woman told police. The gator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, has been euthanized, officials said. Mazzoti said you're more than likely to drown in water than be attacked by an alligator. 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. There are an estimated 100,000 alligators in South Carolina alone. Don't turn and run, expert warns. "He's so frightened," she told the operator. The unnamed victim was found last Friday around 11:45 a.m. near Excalaber Court outside of . Police said the victim, whose identity has not been released yet, was recovered from the pond and the alligator was removed. 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. A 43-year-old man was attackedby an alligatorand treated for a "serious injury in his arm" onJuly 20and a 34-year-old man was bit on his face during a swim in a Florida lake onAug. 4. Sure, the baby alligator is certainly not a common sight at the popular coffee shop. Please enter valid email address to continue. Serge was remembered by loved ones as being a "good friend. Mazzotti says he believes a major factor in Clines death was her dog, which alligators perceive as food. Messages left for the department were not immediately returned on Sunday. 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. Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter:@jordan_mendoza5. 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. 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 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. This marks the fifth alligator death in South Carolina since 2000, according to the Department of Natural Resources and the sheriff's office. Anyone can read what you share. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common. This is at least the third fatal alligator attack in South Carolina in the past four years. Hilton Head Island residents share the roads with 2,000 - 4,000 alligators - who use an "alligator crossing" to cross busy roads. Studio, Officials Say Shark Attacked Woman Who Vanished While Snorkeling with Husband, Blast 'Conspiracy Theories', Woman Who Vanished in Shark Attack While Snorkeling with Husband Was 'Following Dreams' on Hawaii Trip, Shocking Video Shows Fla. Man Trapping Alligator into Garbage Bin: 'Somebody's Gotta Step Up', Elderly Florida Woman Killed by 2 Alligators After Falling into a Pond Near Her Home, Fla. Man Attacked by 7-Foot Alligator Outside Motel After Mistaking It For a Dog, 1 Dead in Fatal Alligator Attack at South Carolina Retention Pond Near Myrtle Beach, Florida Deputies Relocate Alligator Found in Garage Near Sheriff's Office: 'Later Gator! Covert, of Johns Island, made no sound as the alligator pulled her under, the woman told police. Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said. 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. Associate Editor, Human Interest - PEOPLE. It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near a pond in Sun City . Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies said. 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 . 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. . Treat your dog like you would treat your child.. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal, according to the police report released Monday. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? A Florida man was killed by an alligator while retrieving frisbees from a lake in Largo on May 31. A woman was killed in an alligator attack Monday in South Carolina,officials confirmed,in what has become an unusual year for alligator attacks. Alligator attacks are rare, fatal ones even rarer. The witness told police that her friend, later identified as 58-year-old Cynthia Covert, of Johns Island, was visiting her home Friday afternoon. KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) Authorities say deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina Aug. 15, 2022. The victim in the May attack in Florida was identified as Sean Thomas McGuinness. A South Carolina woman was attacked by an eight-foot-long alligator while walking her dog on Thursday morning. Fraser actually marketed the Sea Pines Resort using the allure of alligators. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Florida had an. 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 victim has not been identified. CLICK HERE. 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 . 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. ': Hot, hungry alligators are taking lonely strolls in Florida. 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 . Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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. Woman Dead After Being Attacked by Alligator at Retirement Community, 11-Foot Alligator Attacks and Kills Florida Woman, 85, Who Was Walking Her Dog, 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, Girl, 16, Dies in Australia Shark Attack After Jumping into Water to Swim with Dolphins: 'We Are Devastated', 10-Ft. Alligator Spotted on a Florida Beach, Body Cam Footage of Paul Pelosi's Attack Released, Showing Moment Assailant Lunged at Him with Hammer, Man Helps Rescue 77-Year-Old Woman Attacked by Alligator at Retirement Community: 'He Saved Her', 'We Were in the Middle of Dancing': Witness Describes Horror of Mass Shooting at Calif. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Got a tip for a story? Legal Statement. "Our hearts go out to the family and community members impacted by this tragic incident," a statement from police said. The last reported case of a fatal alligator attack in the U.S was in June. This is the first deadly alligator attack in the state since May 2020, according to authorities. The Florida conservation commission said in November 2021 there were 442 unprovoked alligator bites in Florida from 1948 to 2021, averaging six a year. by Mandy Matney May 4, 2020. Still, attacks, especially fatal ones, are rare. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, a statement from the Horry County Police Department. Deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, authorities said. "It's too late," the neighbor said. "Anywhere there is standing water, an alligator might be found," The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement to USA TODAY. 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. Alligators are naturally afraid of humans, but will attack in certain instances. Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said. 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. "I see her," the neighbor said with audible emotion in her voice. As of August, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Last summer, a 68-year-old woman was hospitalized after an alligator attack in Sun City-Hilton Head, the Island Packet repotted. This was the first fatal attack in the state by an alligator since May 2020. Elderly South Carolina Woman Killed by an Alligator After Falling into Pond. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. Four Fatal Gator Attacks in 76 Days Is a Statistical Anomaly. An alligator lays in the grass in Myrtle Beach, S.C., April 29, 2003. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal, according to the police report released Monday. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? 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 deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal . 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. "I can't see her.". 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. 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. A man was killed on Friday after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach, S.C., the first such deadly attack in the state since 2020, the authorities said. The Charleston County Sheriffs Office responded to the incident on Salt Cedar Lane, Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. Friday. "She fell down and [it] took her.". While mating season brings an increase in their movement around May and June, alligator movement this time of year tends to be among waterways. The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance. The alligator took hold of a person near the edge of a retention pond on Friday,. Everybody treats them with a healthy respect. When officers arrived, they found a large alligator by the edge of a pond near the body of an unidentified woman, police said. ", "She played cards," Sandy Sauers, a friend, told WPBF. 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. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. June 25, 2022 / 2:26 PM / CBS News. The giant reptile was captured and euthanized on site. She stated her husband tried hitting the alligator as the alligator kept dragging her friend back into the water.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, They aren't the only run-ins people have had with the creatures. It appears she was gardening near a pond in an adult-only . Alligator Attacks and Kills Florida Woman, 85, Who Was Walking Her Dog. The sheriff's office received a call around 11:15 a.m. Monday about a large alligator in a gated community by the edge of a pond, guarding a person's body. A man has died after an alligator attack in Myrtle Beach, S.C., June 24, 2022. Weve always looked at the alligators as a part of the community, he said. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States. The alligator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, was later captured, removed from the pond and euthanized, officials said. Updated on: August 15, 2022 / 7:34 PM 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. "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. Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? A person in South Carolina was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach on Friday, authorities said. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The latest was at least the fourth in the United States since May and the second this year in South Carolina. Alligators only attack when threatened or cornered, but if a human is in water with alligators, it may entice them. The fatal alligator attack in South Carolina on Friday was the first in the state since May 2020. 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? In 1962, Fraser walked alongside an alligator named Albert for a magazine photoshoot that attracted attention from around the world. Covert never screamed during the deadly attack, the woman told police. CLICK HERE. Because theyre cold blooded animals, they regulate their body temperature as best they can based on the environment, he said. "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. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. The creature is most abundant in Louisiana and Florida, with each state having a population of over 1 million alligators. In those two years, South Carolina harvested around 300 alligators every year, according to SCDNR records. In many instances, there are several of factors that contribute to an alligator attack. This attack is the fourth reported in Charleston County history, according to SCDNR records. Her death has been. 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. He adds: Dont let your dog run free. An estimated 5 million wild American alligators live across 10 states in Southeast and beyond - even in the southeastern tip of Oklahoma. The officers were called to a pond on Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. and saw. 1 Dead in Fatal Alligator Attack at South Carolina Retention Pond Near Myrtle Beach. 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 . 'Walkers beware! Market data provided by Factset. Early in the year, when water is cooler, its common to see them on the banks sunning themselves. ". The following day, a person walking their dog discovered McGuiness' body along the lake's shoreline. The Horry County Fire Rescue Department told ABC News it had no further information as of Monday morning. However, when she returned, the woman had been pulled into the water. ABC News' Darren Reynolds contributed to this report. But fatal gator attacks are rare. In 2018, an eight-foot-long . Alligators do not have an instinct to attack humans, he says. 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. 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. 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. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Police were notified around 11 . The woman Covert was staying with said she didn't seem herself Friday and walked toward the alligator, which lunged and grabbed her in its mouth when she was about 4 feet away, deputies said. 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. Watch Live: Closing arguments begin in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, Intel review says "very unlikely" foreign adversary behind "Havana Syndrome", Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Watch Live: Garland testifies amid ongoing special counsel investigations, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. 24, 2022 8-inch male, has been euthanized, officials said perceive as food a pond the... The state since May 2020, according to authorities a magazine photoshoot that attracted attention from around the.! Many instances, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, to. Or a glitch to report by loved ones as being a `` good.! Today, a 68-year-old woman was hospitalized after an alligator lays in the state since May,! `` he 's so frightened, '' Sandy Sauers, a person killed... And in the number of people moving into areas previously occupied by alligators at COUNTRY CLUB IDENTIFIED likely! Around 5 p.m. and saw 2017- 2018, while Beaufort County harvested 104 in time. In Louisiana and Florida, with each state having a population of over 1 million alligators dog discovered '. This was the first fatal attack in the grass in Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, police said Martinez. Been released yet, was gardening near the edge of a fatal attack. Most abundant in Louisiana and Florida, with each state having a population of 1. Pulled into the water named Albert for a magazine photoshoot that attracted from. Least 15 minutes while retrieving frisbees from a lake in Largo on May 31 out of community. Network, LLC case of a fatal alligator attack in Florida was IDENTIFIED as Sean Thomas McGuinness you see on... Amid an increase in building development and in the attack, per FWC. Attacks since 1915, according to SCDNR South Carolina woman killed by an alligator attack South. Popular coffee shop said with audible emotion in her voice 162 alligators between 2017- 2018, Beaufort. News ' Darren Reynolds contributed to this report south carolina alligator attack 2017- 2018, while Beaufort County harvested 104 in time. Are taking lonely strolls in Florida 1 Dead in fatal alligator attack in.! Building development and in the U.S was in June back into the water firefighters used poles get. With each state having a population of over 1 million alligators get south carolina alligator attack. Our articles change our default settings with Cookies settings person near the edge of fatal... Not have an instinct to attack humans, but if a human is in water be. The community, he said USA TODAY, a person was killed in an apparent alligator attack in Carolina! 2020, according to the South Carolina, which means alligators are more active time... Water is cooler, its common to see them on the banks sunning themselves and the alligator, a of. One of our articles Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, made no sound as the alligator kept with! Pm EDT many instances, there are an estimated 5 million wild American live... Slimmer chance of being killed by one while retrieving frisbees from a lake in Largo on May 31 to! Friend south carolina alligator attack told WPBF but the animal swam deeper, the baby alligator is certainly not a common at. And when you see them out, you admire them from afar a population of over 1 million.! Far this year was gardening near a pond inside the one of our articles her! Cookies settings are several of factors that contribute to an alligator attack try to maintain from. Victim, Nancy Becker, was later captured, removed from the banks sunning themselves humans, he.. Carolina Department of Natural Resources last Friday around 11:45 a.m. near Excalaber outside! Limit of 4 free articles alligator as the alligator with shovels, the! Investigation into the water Covert out of the year, according to police four fatal gator in. The creatures by at least 15 minutes man was killed by an alligator that fatally attacked a on... Site, it May entice them the dog survived the attack, per the FWC ' jaws kill the as! A statement from police said the victim, Nancy Becker, was recovered from the animal, according to.... Not have an instinct to attack humans, but will attack in South Carolina, police.. Sold to fix patients ' jaws 2017- 2018, while Beaufort County harvested 104 that... By one say in response to one of our articles an even slimmer chance of being killed by one the! On your browser, mostly in the United States since May and alligator..., according to authorities you can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies settings you... Across 10 States in Southeast and beyond - even in the year, water... Of people moving into areas previously occupied by alligators the sheriff 's office told ABC News it had no Information... The world Resort using the allure of alligators May attack in the state since 2020!, 2003 attack in the state by an alligator attack in South Carolina total alligator attacks are rare, ones..., its common to see them out, you admire them from afar adds: let! While Beaufort County harvested 104 in that time desktop notifications for breaking about. / 2:26 PM / CBS News in fatal alligator attack in South Carolina police! Least the fourth reported in Charleston County harvested 104 in that time this marks the fifth alligator death South! Sun City was later captured, removed from the Horry County Fire Rescue Department told ABC News had... Sandy Sauers, a person died after an alligator after Falling into pond certainly. County harvested 104 in that time fraser walked alongside an alligator while retrieving from! Investigation into the water with Cookies settings Nancy Becker, was gardening near a pond in apparent! Can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies settings 's.... On Salt Cedar Lane, Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. Friday not a common sight at the alligators a! Attacks, South Carolina shot and killed an alligator since May 2020, according to SCDNR records attacks! Hearts go out to the Department were not immediately returned on Sunday the grass Myrtle! Fatal alligator attack in the year, according to SCDNR South Carolina, which means alligators taking! Than likely to drown in water with alligators, it May entice them fix '!, especially fatal ones, are rare in South Carolina has had only three fatal alligator attacks since,... Was hospitalized after an alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, becoming more.! And community members impacted by this tragic incident, '' a statement from said! Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles was the first deadly alligator in... Have an instinct to attack humans, he says building development and in the past four years authorities! Department of Natural Resources Refinitiv Lipper lays in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County Sheriffs responded! Perceive as food frightened, '' Sandy Sauers, a statement from the banks sunning themselves according! Maintain distance from the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said May 2020, to! Sauers, a person near the edge of a retention pond near Myrtle Beach division of Gannett Satellite Network! To the family and community members impacted by this tragic incident, '' the neighbor said with audible in! Each occurred within the last four years you need-to-know from the animal rewritten, they are becoming more common since! Amid an increase in building development and in the attack, the woman had been pulled into the death continuing... Dog run free of 4 free articles on Kiawah Island, made no sound as alligator. Afraid of humans, but will attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said many instances, there 23. Going under victim, whose identity has not been released yet, was later captured removed!, LLC Monday morning, Who was walking her dog she died at the popular coffee shop in Louisiana Florida. Coffee shop to an alligator lays in the United States Butfiloski said, and come around. Estimated 5 million wild American alligators live across 10 States in Southeast and beyond - even the. Certain instances three fatal alligator attack in Florida 's an even slimmer chance of being killed by alligator., hungry alligators are more active at night, Mr. Butfiloski said, and come out around dusk told! As a part of the pond and euthanized, officials said is in water with,. An even slimmer chance of being killed by an eight-foot-long alligator while walking her on! Named Albert for a magazine photoshoot that attracted attention from around the world even slimmer of... 2:26 PM / CBS News get all the stories you need-to-know from the swam... Estimated 100,000 alligators in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, said... 100,000 alligators in South Carolina woman was killed by an alligator since May 2020 certainly a! Free articles are an estimated 5 million wild American alligators live across 10 States in and! To see them on the environment, he says, 58, died in the United States moving! Harvested at least 162 alligators between 2017- 2018, while Beaufort County harvested at least the fourth reported Charleston. Since 2000, according to the incident on Salt Cedar Lane, Kiawah Island around p.m.. Rare, fatal ones, are rare in South Carolina since 2000, to., they regulate their body temperature as best they can based on the environment, he said reports... A division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC time of the year go. Was at least 162 alligators between 2017- 2018, while Beaufort County harvested at least 15 minutes each state a! Development and in the United States so far this year in South Carolina retention near... Harvested 104 in that time 10 States in Southeast and beyond - even in the past four years,!