A woman was killed by an alligator while canoeing on Lake Kissimmee on Tuesday, May 6, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The woman, identified by an FWC official as Cynthia Diekema, 61, of Polk County, was canoing with her husband in about 2½ feet of water at the mouth of Tiger Creek when the boat drifted over a large alligator. FWC Major Evan Laskowski said at a news conference on May 7 that the startled creature thrashed and overturned the canoe, throwing the couple into the water.
Diekema landed on top of the reptile and was bitten. Her husband attempted to intervene, but was unsuccessful, Laskowski said. Her body was later spotted by a Polk County Sheriff’s Office helicopter and recovered by FWC officers.
Nuisance alligator trappers responded to the scene Tuesday evening and recovered “an 11-foot, four-inch alligator matching the length description of the alligator involved in the incident,” Laskowski said. “We still have trappers on scene today, and they just recovered a second alligator, approximately 10 to 11 feet in length.”
“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,” said FWC executive director Roger Young. “Be cautious of your surroundings. Know what wildlife is in the area.”
The FWC has launched a full investigation, Young said, who thanked Sheriff Grady Judd and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for their cooperation.
The attack came days after a man and his dog were killed by a black bear in Collier County. Young said there were no updates available yet, but the FWC was processing DNA testing on the bears that were captured and killed after the incident.
Here’s what we know.
Who was the woman killed by an alligator in Florida?
The FWC identified the woman as Cynthia Diekema of Davenport. She and her husband were in a 14-foot canoe in approximately 2½ feet of water, officials said.
In a radio transmission with the PCSO acquired by ClickOrlando, an official said she was canoeing with her husband, “Gator grabbed her out of the canoe. He tried to fight the gator off. We’re at the last place he saw her. He left the paddle here where he last saw her.”
“This is not believed to be a predatory incident, but just simply an incident of a defensive incident,” FWC spokesman Bradley Johnson said, “where they came upon the alligator beneath the water’s edge, and when the canoe struck, it caused the reaction.”
Where was Cynthia Diekema attacked by an alligator in Florida?
Diekema was killed on Lake Kissimmee, near the mouth of Tiger Creek, officials said.
It’s the second time in two months that an alligator has attacked someone in that area. On March 3, a woman was bitten on the elbow on the same creek, which connects Tiger Lake and Lake Kissimmee.
According to the FWC, Lake Kissimmee has the second-highest number of alligators in the state.
When is alligator mating season in Florida?
Alligator mating season “officially” begins in May or June, but male alligators begin courting in early April.
During that time they may range up to several miles seeking mates and new habitats.
Are alligators more aggressive during mating season?
Yes, toward other alligators. Alligators will still tend to avoid humans, the FWC said. But before and during mating season they will be much more active than usual and that means more human encounters and more chances of dangerous outcomes.
Males tend to get more aggressive in April as they try to dominate weaker gators and make themselves look more attractive before mating season begins. The males that lose go looking for new places to live. Sometimes that means a gator popping up in residential pools, golf courses or yards.
Females aren’t necessarily more aggressive leading up to mating season but will become highly aggressive if you approach the nest or eggs.
According to wildlife officials, the reptiles are most active between dusk and dawn.
How often do alligator attacks occur in Florida?
While gator attacks aren’t uncommon in Florida, deaths from them are, even though alligators are present in every county in the state. The FWC says the chances of a Florida resident being seriously injured in an unprovoked alligator attack are one in 3.1 million.
Since the state started tracking alligator bites on people in 1948, as of the end of 2024 there have been 487 unprovoked bites from wild alligators, according to FWC data. Of those, 339 were major bites and 27 were fatal.
How to avoid getting attacked or killed by a Florida alligator
“Florida is a beautiful state,” Young said, “We encourage people to get out and enjoy our wildlife and enjoy our wilderness areas, but we always do that with a layer of, be cautious of your surroundings. Be aware of where you are. Be aware of the wildlife that’s in the area. Look for signs and keep your distance from them.
“It’s great to enjoy wildlife and enjoy from a distance. Enjoy them. Keep a safe distance from them, and obviously, don’t provoke them. Don’t engage with them. Let them be and it’s a safe area.”
How can you avoid getting attacked by an alligator? Mostly, avoid them in the first place.
If you are bitten, get immediate medical attention. Alligator bites often result in serious infections that can be fatal.
What do I do if I see an alligator?
If you encounter an alligator you think will be a threat to people, pets or property, call the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 1‐866‐FWC‐GATOR (392‐4286) or visit myfwc.com.
The FWC’s Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) uses contracted nuisance alligator trappers throughout the state to remove alligators 4 feet in length or greater that are believed to pose a threat. Up to 15,000 gators were taken from the wild in the last year, Johnson said, and the allotment for the statewide alligator hunt was increased by 1,000 in 2025.
Andy Kuppers, Lakeland Ledger, contributed to this article.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida woman killed in alligator attack identified, 11-foot gator caught. What we know
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
