All Rights Reserved. WHDH broadcast educational and informational programming for children, and file quarterly reports with the FCC detailing the station's outreach to children. A contracted nuisance alligator trapper captured the alligator, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (CNN) An 85-year-old woman walking her dog was killed Monday when an alligator pulled her into a nearby retention pond in southeast Florida, according to wildlife officials. Florida woman, 85, dead after gator attacks while out walking her dog. News Tips: (800) 280-TIPS 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. Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter:@jordan_mendoza5. An elderly woman was killed while trying to rescue her dog from an alligator attack in a St. Lucie County, Florida senior living community. No. There are about 1.3 million alligators in Florida, but alligator attacks resulting in serious injuries are rare, according to the commission. Terrifying video captures the moment a 10-foot-long alligator lunges at an 85-year-old woman in Florida dragging her to her death as she tries to protect her dog from the beast. Dogs are more susceptible to being bitten than humans because dogs resemble the natural prey of alligators. The video showed how the 3m-long reptile silently followed her and her dog from afar before it finally surged out of the lake and lunged at the pooch called Trooper. The video showed how the alligator silently followed Ms Gloria Serge, then lunged at her dog before going for her. Frantic 911 Call Released After Alligator Fatally Attacked Florida Woman, 85, 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, 10-Ft. Alligator Spotted on a Florida Beach, Elderly Florida Woman Killed by 2 Alligators After Falling into a Pond Near Her Home, Man Killed in Suspected Alligator Attack While Looking for Frisbees at Florida Park, Police Say, Florida Man, 59, Killed in Car Crash After Colliding with 11-Foot Alligatorin Roadway, Fla. Man Attacked by 7-Foot Alligator Outside Motel After Mistaking It For a Dog, Florida Woman Suffers 'Severe Injuries' After She Falls into Canal and Is Attacked by Alligator, 250 Gators Have Been Removed from Disney Property in Fla. All content Copyright 2000 - 2023 WHDH-TV. 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. Roughly 4% of alligator attacks on humans in the United States have resulted in death, a majority of which occurred in Florida (Florida Museum International Shark Attack . Today, we have a video to show you how scary these huge reptiles can be. Gloria Serge was walking her small dog along the pond in her community in Ft. Pierce whenthe alligator attempted to take her dog, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Tuesday. The last reported death associated with an alligator before the attack in St. Lucie County was in 2019. "Anywhere there is standing water, an alligator might be found," The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a statement to USA TODAY. 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? Fatal Attack Footage: Alligator Glides Towards Florida Woman, Leaps Out of Water and Drags Her Into the Lake Animals 911 Call Reveals Moments After Gator Attacks Elderly Woman Never swim outside of posted swimming areas. An 85-year-old woman died Feb. 20 after an alligator grabbed her dog in a St. Lucie County community along Florida's East Coast. The creature is most abundant in Louisiana and Florida, with each state having a population of over 1 million alligators. The dog managed to get out of harms way but the alligator went for Ms Gloria Serge, who was dragged into the water and mauled to death. When alligators seize prey they cannot easily overpower, they will often let go and retreat. Alligators only attack when threatened or cornered, but if a human is in water with alligators, it may entice them. He never surfaced. An eyewitness, Ms Carole Thomas, 76, quickly called 911 as she tried to help her neighbour. Trooper survived the attack but Ms Serge succumbed to her injuries. Dispose of fish scraps in garbage cans at boat ramps and fish camps; do not throw them in the water. Jeffrey Heim, who is 25 . Mandelker said that at a Wednesday monthly HOA meeting, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and St. Lucie County Sheriffs officials attended. And there have only been 23 fatalities between 1948 and 2016. The dog survived the attack, according to WPTV 5. Theres a woman in the lake! Alligator attacks are very rare, even in Louisiana and Florida. In 1977, 13 people received major injuries, followed by 11 in 2001 and 10 in 2017. BAY NEWS 9. In 2021, nearly 9,500 nuisance alligators described as being at least 4 feet in length and posing "a threat to people, pets or property" were killed in the state. READ ON THE FOX NEWS. Over the past 10 years, Florida has averaged eight unprovoked bites per year that are serious enough to require professional medical treatment, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The FWC said dog walkers should keep pets at least 10 feet from the water's edge to try and avoid attacks. Female alligators rarely exceed10 feet in length. Rattlesnakes:What to know if you're bitten by a rattlesnake, Bears:What should you do if you see a bear? ': Hot, hungry alligators are taking lonely strolls in Florida. With a population of just under 48,000, it is the oldest city on the Treasure Coast. The incident occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Friday at the . He stayed down the whole time, Lilly said. In June 2016, Lane was grabbed by an alligator as he played in about a foot of water at the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in Orlando. Gloria Serge was . The three alligators are in addition to one removed and euthanized after Gloria Serge was pulled into the water as she walked her dog by a small lake in the area of Picante Circle and Aguila Avenue, according to Jay Mandelker, Spanish Lakes Fairways HOA president, on Thursday. The commission previously said the state's alligator population has grown to 1.3 million. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Neighbor Carol Thomas told Inside Edition that she tried to help Serge while speaking with 911. Most alligators are naturally afraid of humans but may lose that fear when people feed them. 85-year-old woman died Feb. 20 after an alligator grabbed her dog. 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. At least four people have been killed in alligator attacks in 2022. Alligators can be found in every Florida county. If there's an alligator under 4 feet is found in your swimming pool, on your porch, under your car, or in a similar situation, a nuisance alligator trapper can be contacted. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call about an alligator attack at a home on Picante Circle in St. Lucie . PHOTOS: SCREENGRAB FROM TRAVEL BIRDS/YOUTUBE, horrifying alligator attack on an 85-year-old woman, Alligator kills 85-year-old woman walking her dog in Florida, Alligator kills Florida man retrieving frisbees in lake, officials say. Alligators typically breed and look for new habitats inthe spring and summertime, meaning there could be an increase in alligator activity. The 10-foot alligator emerged from the water and knocked Serge over before it pulled her into the water by her foot, the agency's report said. 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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. In case you're wondering, sharks, alligators, algae and hurricanes: What are the Floridian odds? Local media reported the 10-foot (3m) alligator first attacked the woman's dog, but went . I couldnt do anything. An elderly woman was killed after she fell into a pond along a Florida golf course and was attacked by two alligators, authorities said. Alligator bites can result in serious infection, and victims should seek immediate medical attention if bitten. NBC 6's Amanda Plasencia reports. Serge was pulled into deeper water and died as a result of the incident, it said. Minor bites are those in which the victims' injuries were superficial and required no treatment or only first aid," the Florida Fish and Wildlife report states. Experts from the University of Florida say to run in a straight line if an alligator is chasing you. A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. "The lighthouse sculpture has been installed to help spread awareness of the Lane Thomas Foundation, which was established to provide assistance and support to families whose children need organ transplants,'' a Disney spokesperson toldUSAT TODAY. Part of that . Gloria Serge can be seen walking down the bank of a lake with her small dog just outside of Spanish Lakes Fairways. Alligator attacks are not uncommon in Florida, although deaths from them are. Significant shortage of dispatchers at some Treasure Coast first responder agencies, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, Alligators are a common sight around Florida, although the number of attacks, especially fatal ones, is low, The alligator that killed the woman was removed and euthanized on the day of the attack. 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.. The alligator, which weighed between 270kg and 320kg, was caught and later euthanised. What are the chances of being bitten by one? Gloria Serge was walking her dog along a retention pond behind her house at Spanish Lakes Fairways in Fort Pierce when the 10-foot reptile attacked. Meanwhile, a small memorial had been set up in a booth at Loutinas Pizza in the Indrio Crossings Plaza for Serge, who frequented the eatery, according to a worker. 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. "I saw the gator grab her." (Copyright (c) 2022 CNN. According to the statement, serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in the state of Florida. I thought, well Ill put that out in the water and hook her or hit him, and she was not there anymore., Helpless, Ms Thomas could only wait. All occurred in the Southeast, where alligators are endemic to wetlands and tidal marshes. Then, the gator bit his leg. "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. Serge was knocked over and the alligator pulled her into the water by her foot. Witnesses called 911 and firefighters recovered the woman's body. The dog survived, the commission spokesperson said, without disclosing its condition. This article is now fully available for you, Please verify your e-mail to read this subscriber-only article in full. In 2019, there was one fatality in Florida, five major and five minor alligator bites. The same report, which includes alligator bite stats on people in Florida from 1948 to 2021, show 26 fatalities, 303 major attacks and 139 minor attacks. If an alligator attacks, experts say to poke at its eyes and punch and kick it around the head. Alligator attacks are rare, and there's an even slimmer chance of being killed by one. 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. An alligator is deemed a nuisance if it is more than 4 feet long and believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property. 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. "There was a incident with someone walking their dog," Stokes said. [1] 2020s [ edit] 2010s [ edit] An 85-year-old woman died Feb. 20 after an alligator grabbed her dog in a St. Lucie County community along Florida's East Coast. Authorities recovered Serge, and a "contracted nuisance alligator trapper" captured and euthanized the large reptile, the official said. An estimated 1.3 million alligators are in Florida and can be found in all 67 counties, according to FWC. The Florida recordfor length is a 14 foot 3-1/2 inch male from Lake Washington in Brevard County. Then, the gator bit his leg. 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. "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. Alligators prefer freshwater lakes and slow-moving rivers, according to the agency. The woman was walking her dog in the Spanish Lakes Fairways retirement community. It goes on to explain the types of bites: "All bites reported are considered unprovoked bites. Shared on Twitter by Rex Chapman, the video was shot in Florida. "Major bites are those in which the victims' injuries required medical care, beyond first aid, to treat wounds. Closely supervise children when they are playing in or around water. The alligator weighed 600 to 700 pounds, WPTV reported. [We] snagged him on the bottom. Hitting or kicking the alligator or poking it in its eyes may cause it to release its grip. A Florida man is recovering after he was bitten on the head by an alligator while diving for shark teeth in the Myakka River. Last . An 85-year-old woman was killed by a 10-foot alligator in Fort Pierce, Florida, wildlife officials said Monday. Firefighters recovered her body from Spanish Lakes Fairways off Interstate 95, near Fort Pierce. In 2020, there were eight major and four minor gator bites here. Homes in the . Around 1.3 million alligators live in Florida, according to the FWC's website. ), WHDH TV 7NEWS WLVI TV CW56 Witnesses called 911 and firefighters recovered the woman's body . TAMPA, Fla. - A high school lacrosse team in Florida had to stop practice when an alligator showed up and took a leisurely stroll across the field. She said fire rescue workers were sent to Picante Circle at 12:07 p.m. to recover a body. 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.. From 1948 to November 2021, Florida's conservation commission reported 442 unprovoked alligator attacks and 14 fatalities statewide. The alligators got her! Thomas tells the dispatcher. Under the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP), the FWC aims "to proactively address alligator threats in developed areas, while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur.". This is a list of fatal alligator attacks in the United States in reverse chronological order by decade. For additional information concerning alligators, call the State Nuisance Alligator Program at 866-FWC-GATOR or 866-392-4286 or visit myfwc.com. The alligator, which was approximately 10 feet long, was caught and euthanized, it added. 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 encounter, a homeowner association president said. The FWC estimates that there are about 1.3 million alligators in Florida, and that the reptiles can be found in all 67 counties. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. First. The reptile species is found throughout Florida's 67 counties, with a population estimated at 1.3 million. The alligator is seen surfacing nearby and approaching the octogenarian, who moves away from the 700-pound monster. The gator has me: Horrifying video shows how alligator attack on 85-year-old in Florida unfolded, All done! Over the last 10 years, Florida has averaged eight unprovoked bites per year that are serious enough to require professional medical treatment. He never surfaced. Gloria Serge was by a retention pond behind her house in Fort Pierce, Florida, on Monday when the 10-foot-long alligator crawled up from the . The woman was killed in the incident involving an alligator based on preliminary information from those who said they witnessed the event, said FWC spokesperson Arielle Callender. CNN . Sunbeam Television Corp For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service. The gator has me, the woman told local TV station WPBF. "Our prayers go out to the loved ones of the victim and the Spanish Lakes residents who knew the victim and witnessed the attack.". Gator attack:A Florida man thought a 7-foot alligator was dog on long leash. The 27-year-old woman was trimming by. Her final moments at the Spanish Lakes Fairways retirement community in Fort Pierce was captured on a wildlife camera set up by Travel Birds on the property, the Inside Edition reported. It is illegal and dangerous to do so. For that reason, it is illegal to feed wild alligators. We were able to get a second hook in him and a hard line in him so we could get him up.. Handling even small alligators can result in injury. According to the statement, seriousinjuries caused by alligators are rarein the state of Florida. Alligator attack risk comparison . Its just horrible, horrible. Thomas said she tried to use a pole to pull Serge to safety. Robert Lilly, the alligator trapper, told the station about trapping the alligator: It was definitely a fight. The clip shows a huge alligator trying to pass through a fence to get to the other side. 2 min read. In 2018, there was one fatality here, nine major and one minor alligator bites on people. The 911 call from an alligator's deadly attack on an 85-year-old woman in Florida has just been released . "The FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance. I've not seen any on any streets here, but it has happened, Mandelker said. (I) just remember her coming up and, you know getting air, and Im saying swim towards the paddle boat, and she says, I cant.