A woman has died from an alligator attack on Sunday, June 28, one of three reported in Florida over the past few days, according to authorities.
The 31-year-old woman was swimming with friends in the Econlockhatchee River near Geneva in Seminole County, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Seminole County Fire Department. She later died at the hospital, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, WESH-TV reported.
The day before, a minor was bitten on the hand by an 8-foot 7-inch alligator while fishing at Nelson’s Fish Camp in Umatilla. On June 21, a 19-year-old snorkeler was bitten on the head and neck by another large alligator in the Rainbow River in Marion County, the FWC reported.
Are alligators getting more dangerous? No, but we’re entering nesting season when female gators lay their eggs and may be more than usually protective.
Are alligator bites common in Florida?
Alligator attacks aren’t uncommon in Florida, but deaths from them are, even though alligators are present in every county and practically every body of water 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 through the end of 2025, there have been 500 reported alligator bites on people in Florida, according to FWC data. Over that 77-year span, 346 bites were major, with 32 fatalities.
Last year, there were 13 reported bites, two of which were fatal.
Alligators have been in Florida for centuries and are an important part of the ecosystem. They usually avoid humans, but as our population and housing rapidly expand and push them out of their natural habitats, we can expect to see more frequent alligator-human conflict.
When is alligator mating season in Florida?
Alligator activity also picks up in the spring and summertime, when they typically breed, look for new habitats, and nest. Courtship begins in early April, and mating occurs in May or June.
In late June and early July, female alligators build a mound nest and deposit an average of 32 to 46 eggs, the FWC said. Hatching occurs between mid-August and early September.
How can you avoid getting attacked by an alligator? Mostly, avoid them in the first place.
How to avoid alligator attacks in Florida
If you get bitten by an alligator, get medical attention as soon as possible. Alligator bites can result in serious infection.
You can get more tips and info at GatorWise, a website produced by the FWC and state fish and wildlife agencies from 10 other states to educate residents on the importance and the dangers of alligators, and how to coexist safely.
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.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Women killed by alligator, others injured in Florida. How to stay safe
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
