south carolina alligator attack

The alligator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, was later captured, removed from the pond and euthanized, officials said. 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 . Then, the gator bit his leg. 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. Photo: Getty. 8/16/2022. ". You try to maintain distance from the banks, and when you see them out, you admire them from afar. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Anyone can read what you share. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It was at least the fourth deadly alligator attack in the United States so far this year. ", RELATED VIDEO: Officials Say Shark Attacked Woman Who Vanished While Snorkeling with Husband, Blast 'Conspiracy Theories'. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share. In South Carolina, they can be found in the states coastal marshlands, according to the Department of Natural Resources. However, at 5:46 p.m., the HCPD released a statement that the Environmental Services and Criminal Investigations Divisions were working on a death investigation. or redistributed. Officials have released a 911 call made after an alligator fatally attacked an 85-year-old woman in Florida earlier this week. 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. Becker's autopsy will be conducted Tuesday, officials said. "If you should be attacked, fight like your life depends on it because it does," Mazzoti said. However, the study at the time cited the need for a "uniform reporting system among states" to get more complete information on alligator encounters. She survived the incident. Its unlikely for them to leave the water to come after someone, he said. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, Why Deadly Alligator Attacks Like South Carolina Are a Growing Trend. However, when she returned, the woman had been pulled into the water. Alligator attacks in South Carolina have increased, likely because of human activities. The huge reptile "took a hold of a neighbor who was near the edge of a retention pond and retreated" back into the water in a golf and yacht club community in Myrtle . "I see her," the neighbor said with audible emotion in her voice. Updated on: August 15, 2022 / 7:34 PM On Aug. 11, Bruce Savage took his dog, Hanna, for a morning walk near. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. The unidentified woman. The situation . A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. When nuisance trappers go into an area with gators theyll often play a recording of a dog barking and the gators will come and investigate.. 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. The woman Covert was staying with said she didnt 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. T he death of Cassandra Cline, a 45-year-old . "He's so frightened," she told the operator. When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. The first one was not fatal, she added. 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. In an interview on Sunday, Mr. Repak said it was common to watch alligators walk on a road over a pair of retention ponds. 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. It was at. The latest was at least the fourth in the United States since May and the second this year in South Carolina. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For reference, you have a better chance of getting attacked by a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. Write to Gina Martinez at gina.martinez@time.com. 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. Alligator attacks are rare, and there's an even slimmer chance of being killed by one. One officer was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced again, police said. In 1962, Fraser walked alongside an alligator named Albert for a magazine photoshoot that attracted attention from around the world. Cynthia Covert, 58, drowned Friday after an alligator repeatedly pulled her into a pond on Kiawah Island, according to a report from the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. In those two years, South Carolina harvested around 300 alligators every year, according to SCDNR records. While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. 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. It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near a pond in Sun City . Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said. A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. She stated her husband tried hitting the alligator as the alligator kept dragging her friend back into the water.. Alligators are active during spring and summer because when temperatures rise, their metabolism increases and they look for food, Melody Kilborn, a spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told ABC News last month. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies 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. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. 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. 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. 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. In many instances, there are several of factors that contribute to an alligator attack. An estimated 5 million wild American alligators live across 10 states in Southeast and beyond - even in the southeastern tip of Oklahoma. ', Man Fatally Shot Ex-Girlfriend's Sister After Convincing Her to Pull Over on Road, Then Killed Himself, remembered by loved ones as being a "good friend. She stated her husband tried to save her friend, but the alligator dragged her under the water, the report 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. The first was an elderly woman in Charleston County in 2016. The dog survived the attack, per the FWC. 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. According to SCDNR South Carolina has had only three fatal alligator attacks in its recorded history and each occurred within the last four years. All rights reserved. First responders were then able to pull the womans body from the water. / CBS News. Jay Butfiloski, the furbearer and alligator program coordinator with the states Natural Resources Department, said that it had seen an increased frequency over the past couple years in alligator attacks but its still a pretty rare event.. By Christian Boschult christian.boschult@myhorrynews.com Jul 15, 2022 0 Alligators like this one. Alligators tend to be more active at night, Mr. Butfiloski said, and come out around dusk. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Moments before the attack, the womans friend warned her to not get closer to the alligator, according to a sheriffs office incident report obtained by FITSNews, but reported first by the Post and Courier. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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 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. 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. Elderly South Carolina Woman Killed by an Alligator After Falling into Pond. The animal latched onto Covert's left leg and began pulling her into. The good news for humans: Alligators have a natural fear of humans and usually will retreat when approached, Texas Parks and Wildlife says. Leanne Golino. 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. At least four people have been killed in alligator attacks in 2022. All Rights Reserved. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This attack is the fourth reported in Charleston County history, according to SCDNR records. 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. The gator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, has been euthanized, officials said. But, theres a caveat. He adds: Dont let your dog run free. 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 . She stated her husband went down and grabbed a shovel and she called 911,the report said. A deputy shot and killed an alligator closest to the womans body upon arrival to the scene. Experts from the University of Florida say to run in a straight line if an alligator is chasing you. Alligator attacks are very rare, even in Louisiana and Florida. 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 . 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. 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 . Experts explain why. According to police, the victim, identified as Sean Thomas McGuinness, 47, was believed to have entered the lake at night. Mazzoti added alligators "don't perceive humans as either a threat or as food.". The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is investigating an alligator attack that left one person dead in Sun City. 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. Market data provided by Factset. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. 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. The alligator took hold of a person near the edge of a retention pond on Friday,. May 5, 2020 / 6:24 AM / CBS/AP. The black Labrador retriever mix was standing up to his. "Anywhere there is standing water, an alligator might be found," The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement to USA TODAY. Deadly alligator attacks on humans are rare. The officers were called to a pond on Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. and saw. Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter:@jordan_mendoza5. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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. However, it certainly gets a lot of attention while it's hanging out near the entrance of the South Carolina business. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, a statement from the Horry County Police Department. CLICK HERE. A-Z Animals reports that a 1,500-pound great white shark is off the coast of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. 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. 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.". The attack occurred near a lagoon on Hilton Head Island on the state's. 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. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Just off of Cape Point this 1,500 shark was spotted on February 28th. A South Carolina woman was attacked by an eight-foot-long alligator while walking her dog on Thursday morning. The last four years alligator fatally attacked an 85-year-old woman in Charleston County history, to. Off the coast of the Outer banks in North Carolina woman was killed in alligator attacks like Carolina! The Outer banks in North Carolina victim, identified as Sean Thomas McGuinness, 47, was gardening a! A-Z Animals reports that a 1,500-pound great white shark is off the coast the... Alligators every year, according to SCDNR South Carolina has had only fatal., it may store or retrieve Information on your browser, mostly in the southeastern tip of.! 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