A woman died after an alligator attacked her Tuesday afternoon on a central Florida lake. The incident occurred near the mouth of Tiger Creek into Lake Kissimmee.
The woman was canoeing with her husband when she encountered the alligator and went into the water. Authorities later recovered her from the water.
Radio transmissions from the Polk County Sheriff's Office indicate the victim's husband attempted to fight the alligator. An officer reported the alligator grabbed her from the canoe.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, along with deputies and marine units from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, responded to the scene. Authorities dispatched a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to the area.
Serious injuries from alligators are uncommon in Florida. The FWC manages a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program to remove alligators deemed a threat to people, pets, or property.
FWC estimates approximately 1.3 million alligators inhabit all of Florida’s 67 counties. Lake Kissimmee, spanning Polk and Osceola counties, is known for a high concentration of the reptiles. Unprovoked attacks on humans are still considered rare despite the large population. State records show fewer than 500 confirmed bite incidents since 1948. A recent University of Florida analysis found more than 90 percent of incidents involved human inattention before the attack.
The incident occurred during peak alligator mating season, a time when animals are often more active. Drought conditions may also displace some alligators from usual habitats.
Authorities advise people to maintain a safe distance from alligators. Keep pets leashed and away from water edges as pets resemble natural prey. Swim only in designated areas during daylight. Never feed alligators, which is illegal and dangerous behavior that can lead to animals associating people with food.
Investigators did not release specific details about the alligator involved.
