Alligator attacks are not uncommon in Florida, although deaths from them are. Dogs are more susceptible to being bitten than humans because dogs resemble the natural prey of alligators. The agency urges people with concerns about. "Our prayers go out to the loved ones of the victim and the Spanish Lakes residents who knew the victim and witnessed the attack.". YouTube/Travel Birds. Don't turn and run, expert warns, 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. The footage obtained by Inside Edition shows Gloria Serge standing with her leashed pooch Monday along a lake outside Spanish Lakes Fairways, a retirement community in Fort Pierce. According to the statement, serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in the state of Florida. The incident occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Friday at the . He stayed down the whole time. Alligator attacks are not uncommon in Florida, although deaths from them are. In 2020, there were eight major and four minor gator bites here. No one answered the door Tuesday or Thursday at Serges listed address on Aguila Avenue. There is a condition, though. An elderly woman was killed while trying to rescue her dog from an alligator attack in a St. Lucie County, Florida senior living community. The woman was walking her dog in the Spanish Lakes Fairways retirement community. [We] snagged him on the bottom. Then, the gator bit his leg. 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 cyclist suffered serious injuries after the . . The state of Florida, where most attacks and deaths occur, began keeping records of alligator attacks in 1948. 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. 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. An estimated 1.3 million alligators are in Florida and can be found in all 67 counties, according to FWC. What are the chances of being bitten? 202120748H. Robert Lilly, the alligator trapper, told the station about trapping the alligator: It was definitely a fight. The Florida recordfor length is a 14 foot 3-1/2 inch male from Lake Washington in Brevard County. Tags: Fort Pierce, Florida, alligator attack FORT PIERCE, Fla. - We're now hearing the chilling 911 call made after an elderly woman was attacked by an alligator Monday while walking her dog. Both his parents rushed to his aid but were unable to save their son. St. Lucie County Fire District spokesperson Brenda Stokes said fire rescue workers were sent to the 6700 block of Picante Circle at 12:07 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, to recover a body. 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. What are the chances of being bitten by one? Minor bites are those in which the victims' injuries were superficial and required no treatment or only first aid. An elderly woman was killed after she fell into a pond along a Florida golf course and was attacked by two alligators, authorities said. Florida alligator bite statistics date back to 1948, ranging around three major bites per year. Gloria Serge can be seen walking down the bank of a lake with her small dog just outside of Spanish Lakes Fairways. Efforts to reach them were unsuccessful or they declined comment. The commission previously said the state's alligator population has grown to 1.3 million. 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. Part of that . 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. 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. We've received your submission. Residents told WPTV 5 that the woman whose name has not yet been released was walking her dog just after noon on Monday when an alligator approached and snatched her dog. "Anytime you show up next to water, you're assuming some risk Don't tempt it.". Major bites are those in which the victims' injuries required medical care. Of those bites, 26 were fatal, meaning there was one fatal injury nearly every three years in the state. Boston, MA 02114 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. The dog survived the attack, according to WPTV 5. "Splashing in the water will attract analligators interest, and if it perceives at that point in time that there's something smaller and weaker in the water, it might attack it," Mazzoti said. An 85-year-old woman died Monday following an alligator bite, when the gator grabbed her while she was walking her dog near a pond in a St. Lucie County golf course community, wildlife officials said. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Serge was pulled into deeper water and died as a result of the incident, it said. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. 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. 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. "I saw the gator grab her." 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. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. According to a November 2021 report from the FWC, there were seven major and three minor alligator bites in 2021. Since Toddler's 2016 Death: Report, Florida Man Fights Off Alligator That Attacked His Dog: 'I'd Fight Tooth and Nail for Him', Doorbell Camera Captures Florida Man Fighting Off Bear on Porch to Protect His Dogs, alligator approached and snatched her dog. And her friends, I spoke to a couple of her friends yesterday who are devastated., Alligator trapper Robert Lilly, who was called to catch the predator, said that it was definitely a fight.. For reference, you have a better chance of. He never surfaced. Gator attack:A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. Serge, who desperately tried to protect her pet from its massive jaws, was dragged underwater and killed in the shocking attack. Alligators less than 4 feet in length are not large enough to be dangerous to people or pets, unless handled. However, the study at the time cited the need for a "uniform reporting system among states" to get more complete information on alligator encounters. He was unsure if the alligators were removed from the same pond where a woman walking her dog died earlier this month. Alligators can be found in every Florida county. Workers stunned as four-foot alligator is hauled from Brooklyn's Prospect Park Lake, near where kids play Terrifying video captures the moment a 10-foot-long alligator lunges at an 85-year-old. Mandelker said that at a Wednesday monthly HOA meeting, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and St. Lucie County Sheriffs officials attended. and it's terrifying. Neighbor Carol Thomas told Inside Edition that she tried to help Serge while speaking with 911. Still, attacks, especially fatal ones, are rare. Ms. Serge was pulled into deeper water and died as a result of the incident. Inside Edition verified the video, and the brutal aftermath, speaking to neighbor Carol Thomas who tried to save Serge before she was pulled under. NO RETURN MOUNTING CHARGES HOME TROUBLE TikTok star, 28, is charged with child abuse after 'attack on boyfriend' 'HE PLAYED ME' On June 22, Samuel Ray told WRAL that he was attacked by an alligator while playing catch near a pond in Florida. Below are details about the alligator attack and what we know. What are the chances of being bitten by one? Alligator attacks are rare, and there's an even slimmer chance of being killed by one. Alligators seldom bite people for reasons other than food, according to the FWC. CNN . "If you should be attacked, fight like your life depends on it because it does," Mazzoti said. Most alligators are naturally afraid of humans but may lose that fear when people feed them. Alligators typically breed and look for new habitats inthe spring and summertime, meaning there could be an increase in alligator activity. "Anywhere there is standing water, an alligator might be found," The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement to USA TODAY. MIAMI - Chilling footage of Wednesdays horrifying alligator attack on an 85-year-old woman in the southern United States state of Florida has emerged on social media. Authorities say the woman, identified as Gloria Serge, "was walking her small dog along a retention pond in her community" when the alligator "pulled her into the water after attempting to take her dog," according to a statement obtained by PEOPLE from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Gloria Serge, 85, was walking her dog on Feb. 20 when an 11-foot alligator grabbed the dog. Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. "I saw the gator grab her." Unprovoked alligator attacks do occasionally happen and should not be downplayed, however most are preventable and the fatality rate is low. If you're walking by a lake, a pond, anywhere in Florida, understand, this is Florida, there could be alligators, so do not walk against the edges of any pond or lake, stay a safe distance away.. Alligator attack risk comparison . 2 min read. She said fire rescue workers were sent to Picante Circle at 12:07 p.m. to recover a body. He never surfaced. Relocated alligators often try to return to their capture site. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 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. Monday's fatal alligator attack on an 85-year-old Florida woman is a rare event but experts say residents should always use caution near bodies of water . The agency said that there were 12 alligator attacks on humans. It goes on to explain the types of bites: "All bites reported are considered unprovoked bites. The agency urges people with concerns about alligators to call 866-392-4286, its Nuisance Alligator Hotline, which dispatches alligator trappers "to resolve the situation." Alligator bites can result in serious infection, and victims should seek immediate medical attention if bitten. Stay safe:5 ways to avoid getting attacked or killed by a Florida alligator. The FWC estimates that there are about 1.3 million alligators in Florida, and that the reptiles can be found in all 67 counties. A total of 303 people have received major injuries and 139 have received minor injuries over the same time period. A woman was killed in an alligator attack Monday in South Carolina,officials confirmed,in what has become an unusual year for alligator attacks. If an alligator attacks, experts say to poke at its eyes and punch and kick it around the head.