A tragic alligator attack claimed the life of a Florida woman on Tuesday afternoon as she and her husband paddled their canoe near Lake Kissimmee, south of Orlando. The intrepid couple made their way across shallow waters at the mouth of Tiger Creek. Then all of a sudden they came up on this big alligator.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in this case a woman was canoeing in only 2.5 feet of water. Now an unsuspecting alligator, disturbed by their approach, knocked over their canoe. Following the attack, a local trapper caught an alligator believed to be responsible that was more than 11 feet long. Investigators trapped a second large alligator that may have been involved in the attack.
Alligator encounters with humans usually spike in the spring mating season, when these reptiles are at their most active. Since 1948, the FWC has monitored every alligator bite that draws blood to a person’s skin in Florida. As of 2024, they have documented a grand total of 487 unprovoked alligator bites in the state. Out of these occurrences, 339 were considered to be major bites, with 27 leading to death.
Roger Young, the executive director of the FWC, said that these encounters are no joke.
“While alligator attacks resulting in fatalities are extremely rare, this tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the powerful wildlife that share our natural spaces.” – Roger Young
Issues in neighbouring counties just this past February, an 85-year-old woman was hit and killed while walking her dog around a community pond in Fort Pierce. This was the longest period without a fatality until the current incident. Additionally, earlier this year, a 23-year-old man lost his arm in an alligator attack near a pond behind a bar in Port Charlotte. This region is prone to alligator encounters and attacks. In March, a woman’s elbow was chomped on in that same spot while kayaking one afternoon.
Young urged residents and visitors to be careful and use common sense while participating in outdoor activities that bring people into contact with wildlife.
“Be cautious of your surroundings. Know what wildlife is in the area.” – Roger Young
Florida has an estimated 1.3 million alligators and, although attacks are rare, they can be fatal. To provide continued public safety the FWC keeps a vigilant eye on alligator populations and nuisance alligator calls.