south carolina alligator attack

While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. Associate Editor, Human Interest - PEOPLE. Serge was remembered by loved ones as being a "good friend. 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. During the call, the neighbor also went to go get the dog. 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 deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal, according to the police report released Monday. In an interview on Sunday, Mr. Repak said it was common to watch alligators walk on a road over a pair of retention ponds. However, it certainly gets a lot of attention while it's hanging out near the entrance of the South Carolina business. An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said. "I see her," the neighbor said with audible emotion in her voice. Weeks earlier, Florida police found a deceased 47-year-old man in agator-infested lakemissing three limbs after a likely encounter with alligators. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? SCDNR officials have estimated that 100,000 alligators live in South Carolina. ST. LUCIE COUNTY Three more alligators have been removed from the Spanish Lakes Fairways community in northern St. Lucie County after an 85-year-old woman died following a Monday alligator . 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. 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. One officer was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced again, police said. South Carolina has been home to over 100,000 alligators. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. 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. 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 . A giant alligator weighing nearly 1,000 pounds was caught in Lake Marion. A person in South Carolina was killed after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach on Friday, authorities said. The following day, a person walking their dog discovered McGuiness' body along the lake's shoreline. Because theyre cold blooded animals, they regulate their body temperature as best they can based on the environment, he said. 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 dog survived the attack, per the FWC. A woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, police said. A man has died after an alligator attack in Myrtle Beach, S.C., June 24, 2022. A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal, according to the police report released Monday. 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. "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. Deputies in South Carolina shot and killed an alligator that fatally attacked a woman on Friday, authorities said. Hilton Head Island residents share the roads with 2,000 - 4,000 alligators - who use an "alligator crossing" to cross busy roads. She saw an alligator and was fascinated by it and went to touch it, against her friends warning. An officer observed the alligator and the victim surface in the water, the report 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. 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 . A deputy had to shoot and kill the alligator to get Covert away from the animal . And you know, she's been alone. 14 of those attacks occurred in Beaufort County according to SCDNR records. The alligator took hold of a person near the edge of a retention pond on Friday,. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? While alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina, they are becoming more common as more humans move to alligator-populated areas. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. At least four people have been killed in alligator attacks in 2022. It was at least the fourth deadly alligator attack in the United States so far this year. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. 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. She was a good friend to a lot of people in the park.". He adds: Dont let your dog run free. 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. 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. It appears she was gardening near a pond in an adult-only . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? 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 . Why Deadly Alligator Attacks Like South Carolina Are a Growing Trend. 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 2020, an alligator killed 58-year-old Cynthia Covert in a Kiawah Island, South Carolina attack, marking the third fatal alligator attack in state history since 2016. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. The first was an elderly woman in Charleston County in 2016. I couldnt have imagined that it was likely one of these alligators that would later kill a man, he wrote on Friday. 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. As of August, there were 23 total alligator attacks since 1915, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The giant reptile was captured and euthanized on site. This marks the fifth alligator death in South Carolina since 2000, according to the Department of Natural Resources and the sheriff's office. 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. . Cynthia Covert, 58, died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies said. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. This was the first fatal attack in the state by an alligator since May 2020. In 1962, Fraser walked alongside an alligator named Albert for a magazine photoshoot that attracted attention from around the world. She survived the incident. Mazzotti says he believes a major factor in Clines death was her dog, which alligators perceive as food. Alligator Attacks and Kills Florida Woman, 85, Who Was Walking Her Dog. She stated her husband tried to save her friend, but the alligator dragged her under the water, the report said. Elderly South Carolina Woman Killed by an Alligator After Falling into Pond. 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. 1 Dead in Fatal Alligator Attack at South Carolina Retention Pond Near Myrtle Beach. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is investigating the incident, the latest in a small string of fatal alligator attacks this summer. 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. Just off of Cape Point this 1,500 shark was spotted on February 28th. The Horry County Fire Rescue Department told ABC News it had no further information as of Monday morning. Her death has been. A woman who was attacked by an alligator Thursday on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina was rescued by a neighbor who hit the animal with a shovel, authorities said. Before those attacks, South Carolina had never recorded a person killed by an alligator. CLICK HERE. Weve always looked at the alligators as a part of the community, he said. Its unlikely for them to leave the water to come after someone, he said. A woman was killed in an alligator attack Monday in South Carolina,officials confirmed,in what has become an unusual year for alligator attacks. The police believe that Mr. McGuinness, 47, had entered the lake in John S. Taylor Park at night. 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. "It's too late," the neighbor said. 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 but not surprising, Major Viens said of the area. Mazzotti says people need to be aware of their surrounding when they are near water or in areas where they have been alligator sightings. A Florida man was killed by an alligator while retrieving frisbees from a lake in Largo on May 31. First published on August 15, 2022 / 7:30 PM. The 10-foot alligator, estimated at 400-500 pounds, then attacked Covert, who officials said was 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. The woman was walking her dog around a Hilton Head. There are an estimated 100,000 alligators in South Carolina alone. A baby alligator was spotted running on the loose outside of a South Carolina Starbucks recently. "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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) officials urge residents and tourists to never feed alligators as it makes them more aggressive toward humans. On Monday morning police responded to a report of an alligator attack at a pond inside the Sun City . 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. 'Walkers beware! CLICK HERE. The first one was not fatal, she added. "Anytime you show up next to water, you're assuming some risk Don't tempt it.". This is at least the third fatal alligator attack in South Carolina in the past four years. 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. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. 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. 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. Then, the gator bit his leg. According to SCDNR South Carolina has had only three fatal alligator attacks in its recorded history and each occurred within the last four years. Legal Statement. Firefighters used poles to get Covert out of the pond but she died at the hospital, authorities said. Messages left for the department were not immediately returned on Sunday. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "Our hearts go out to the family and community members impacted by this tragic incident," a statement from police said. Gator attack:A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. Early in the year, when water is cooler, its common to see them on the banks sunning themselves. 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. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? Prior to that attack, an unidentified victim died after analligatordragged them into a pond in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 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. 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 Sheriff's Office . "I think she's gone. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, Why Deadly Alligator Attacks Like South Carolina Are a Growing Trend. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Benjamin previously served as Columbia's mayor from 2010 to 2021 and currently sits as the CEO and president of the Benjamin Firm, LLC. The animal latched onto Covert's left leg and began pulling her into. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. The victim was recovered from the pond, and the alligator was removed and euthanized on site. Fraser actually marketed the Sea Pines Resort using the allure of alligators. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. It was at. Fatal alligator attacks are typically rare in the United States, with the Center for Disease and Prevention reporting that alligators killed only 10 people in the Southeast from 1999 to 2019. The victim was identified as 88-year-old Nancy Becker, ABC News reports. The area in the Outer Banks is a favorite hangout spot for great white sharks, apparently. By Christian Boschult christian.boschult@myhorrynews.com Jul 15, 2022 0 Alligators like this one. 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. 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.. The womans husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. Covert, of Johns Island, made no sound as the alligator pulled her under, the woman told police. It was no walk in the park for a South Carolina man who saved his dog from an alligator attack during a morning stroll. The Florida commission says the chances of a Florida resident being seriously injured in an unprovoked alligator attack are in one in 3.1 million. 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