The alligator, swimming on the surface, closes in on a woman and her dog at a brisk pace, then lunges out of the water at the dog. The dog manages to dodge the alligator’s snapping jaws, leaving the woman within striking distance of the large predator.
The 11-foot-long, 600-pound alligator killed 85-year-old Gloria Serge on Monday while she was walking her small dog along the grassy banks of a suburban pond near Fort Pierce. The dog survived the attack, and the alligator later was euthanized.
Attacks like this are horrifying, but relatively uncommon, considering there are approximately 1.3 million alligators in Florida, and more than 21 million people. From 1948 to 2021, there were 442 unprovoked bite incidents in Florida, 26 of which resulted in people dying, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission. That’s an average of almost three deadly alligator attacks per year.
Even so, there are steps you can take to avoid tragedy and ensure safety for yourself and loved ones.
Understand their habitat
Nearly any body of fresh or brackish water in Florida could be home to alligators, said Sanibel-based Dr. Benjamin Abo, a wilderness emergency medical expert who has treated alligator bites. “There’s always the possibility of a gator to be there,” he said. Alligators will also migrate to new territories by land, so an isolated pond on a golf course could hold the reptiles, even though it’s not connected to a large lake.
American crocodiles in the mix
There are approximately 2,000 American crocodiles, commonly called saltwater crocodiles, in Florida, and they inhabit saltwater and brackish shallows from the Dry Tortugas to about halfway up the east and west coasts of the state.
In 2015, a saltwater crocodile killed a pitbull mix that was off-leash at Crandon Golf Course on Key Biscayne, and a saltwater crocodile bit two swimmers in a South Miami canal in 2014. There have been no recorded American crocodile fatalities in Florida.
Pets and children are targets
Predators want easy meals, not battles.
Adults humans are normally considered too big for an alligator, but “a child or small animal — those they’re going to want to go for,” Abo said. “I have two small dogs. I absolutely would jump in the water for them. But I would never get into the predicament. You should never let a child wander by, and never let a small animal anywhere near water where a gator might be.
“In Florida, I will not let my dogs within 10 feet of the water’s edge, and if I’m hiking and have to cross a creek, I’ll pick them up.” The FWC website warns that the sound of dogs playing or barking can actually attract alligators to an area.
Size makes a difference
Abo also warned against crouching near the water’s edge — your smaller profile might make you more appealing, and fleeing from a crouched position could lead to stumbling. He mentioned a recent incident in Sanibel that he responded to where a construction worker was attacked while crouching down to wash his hands in a pond. He escaped with serious injuries to his arm.
Light levels
Abo said alligators are more dangerous at dusk and at night, as they become more predatory in low light. “But don’t let your guard down at any time of day,” he added. The alligator that killed Serge attacked in broad daylight.
How to flee
Though some say running in a zig-zag pattern is the best way to escape an alligator, Abo disagrees. ”Just get the hell out. Don’t worry about the zig-zag,” he said. “I’m afraid you’re more likely to slip or twist an ankle. You’re on wet grass. Just get out of there.” Abo also warned that alligators have extremely powerful tails, and can whip them and knock prey down. Once you’re on the ground, they have a greater advantage.
If an alligator gets a hold of you
“If you have your wits about you and you can raise its head up, great,” he said, “but in most cases that’s not possible. Otherwise poke at its eyes. Everything else is armored.
“You could potentially punch or stab underneath the jaw at the throat, where it’s softer on the underside. But really the best thing to do is go for its eyes. Alligators sometimes bite and roll to disable their prey. Abo said if they roll, roll with it.
The FWC website also offers some hope: “If an alligator bites you, the best thing to do is fight back, providing as much noise and resistance as possible. Hitting or kicking the alligator or poking it in its eyes may cause it to release its grip. When alligators seize prey they cannot easily overpower, they will often let go and retreat.”
After a bite
Abo advises that if you break free and are at a safe distance, you must stop the bleeding right away.
“Put a tourniquet on immediately and get medical help.” He warned that any bite from an alligator, even a baby, could be dangerous because of necrotizing [flesh-eating] bacteria in their mouths. “Oral antibiotics are not going to do anything for these bacteria. You already had a gator try to eat your flesh, you don’t need bacteria to do it also.”
Never feed them
The FWC website advises “never feed or entice alligators — it is dangerous and illegal.
“When fed, alligators overcome their natural wariness and associate people with food. … Dispose of fish scraps in garbage cans at boat ramps and fish camps — do not throw them in the water. Although you are not intentionally feeding alligators when you do this, the end result can be the same.” Abo said that “if you understand some basics about animal behavior, we can all coexist well.”
Nuisance alligators
The FWC website says that an alligator may be considered a nuisance if it’s “at least 4 feet in length and believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property.” If you’re concerned about an alligator, you can call the Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286.
