Mostly cloudy skies. SHE SAID SHE SAW IT CRAWL ACROSS SEABROOK DRIVE EARLIER THIS MONTH. It resurfaced a few moments later and a deputy shot the alligator in the head with a 9mm handgun until it released Coverts body, which was intact with severe wounds to her left leg. The animals body was sent to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, according to the report, and Coverts autopsy was performed Monday. She was walking near a lagoon at 8 a.m. on Hilton Head Island on Thursday when the 8-foot alligator attacked, police said. Single bites are usually made by smaller alligators (less than 8 feet [2.4 m]) and result in an immediate release, possibly because they were unsure of their intended prey. Reach Gregory Yee at 843-937-5908. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Because theyre cold blooded animals, they regulate their body temperature as best they can based on the environment, he said. Alligators begin courtship in April throughout most of their range and breed in late May and early June. An updated number of alligator incidents was not available Friday night. Police in South Carolina said an autopsy for a woman killed in an alligator incident is scheduled for Monday while officers continued to investigate the attack. When she resurfaced, the homeowners tossed her a rope, which she grabbed ahold of. Alligators overcome their natural shyness and become accustomed or attracted to humans when fed. Alligators have a natural fear of humans and usually begin a quick retreat when approached by people. Most alligator bites occur in Florida. WebCynthia Covert, 58, died Friday in a vicious alligator attack on Kiawah Island. WebMost alligator bites occur in Florida. Alligators inflict damage with their sharp, cone-shaped teeth and powerful jaws. These alligators are usually warming their bodies; they are not actively hunting. Bring it on. The sheriffs office said a deputy shot and killed the alligator they believed was responsible before retrieving its body. The deadly attack, in a gated community near Hilton Head Island, S.C., was at least the fourth in the country this If you hear an alligator hiss, it is a warning sign that you are too close. var zergnet = document.createElement('script'); Unregulated market hunting and habitat alteration resulted in near extirpation of the species in Texas by the 1950's. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Relocating problem animals to other areas often create greater problems. ), giant reed (Phragmytes spp. The woman Covert was staying with said she didnt seem herself Friday and despite assurances otherwise, had walked toward the alligator, which lunged and grabbed her in its mouth when she was about 4 feet (1.2 meters) away, deputies said. The body of an 88-year-old woman who was killed by an alligator was discovered on Monday in a pond in a gated community near Hilton Head Island, S.C., officials said. Beaufort's first Black park, dating back to the 1940s, received a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant and a $20,000 state grant. var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; The following information should help you determine if the observed alligator may pose a threat to you or your property. Many have doubts. zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true; When deputies arrived, the alligator kept surfacing with Covert and going under. The womans husband and another man tried beating the alligator with shovels, but the animal swam deeper, the police report said. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. If you see an alligator in the roadway, DO NOT attempt to move it! Whether or not you share your childs fascination for reptiles, here are the best toys, books and games to excite any reptile lover. Say youre kayaking, and you see an alligator, just keep going past it. Renting bikes to Kiawah and Seabrook Islands since 1986. Feeding an alligator is a Class C misdemeanor and punishable by a fine up to $500. Do - use ordinary common care. Alligators have a keen sense of smell. Alligators like to bask along the banks of ponds and streams in order to warm their bodies. He was killed while snorkeling in the Wakulla Springs State Park, He was killed while diving and harassing small alligators in a canal near, He was killed by a 12' 4" (3.8 m) alligator while swimming in a canal in, He was killed while swimming across the Hidden River Canal off Bessie Creek in. The latest was at least the fourth in the United States since May and the second this year in South Carolina. He studied journalism and Spanish literature at the University of California, Irvine. In areas near alligator sightings, it is wise to keep pets inside a fenced area or in the house for a few days, during which the alligator will often move on. Its unlikely for them to leave the water to come after someone, he said. When deputies and firefighters arrived the pond was calm, but after 10 or 15 minutes the woman's body emerged, with the alligator still clamped onto her leg, Herriott said. | Terms of Use| Privacy Policy. It is now a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500, to intentionally feed an alligator. Maffo says no matter what, do not touch an alligator. I dont look like a deer, Covert responded, according to a police report, before trying to touch the gator. In these incidents, alligators had lost their fear of humans and exhibited aggressive behavior. The victim was pulled under and drowned by an alligator in a pond behind a home near Salt Cedar Lane, Dragged to her death while walking her dog near a golf course in the gated community of Sea Pines in, Dragged to her death and dismembered while walking dogs at the Silver Lake Rotary Nature Park in, Walker's body was found in a retention pond near Brookdale Senior Living Center in, An alligator, 4 to 7 feet long, dragged the victim under water in the, Police recovered Taylor's body after a report of an alligator with a body in its mouth near, A police dive team found the victim's body in a pond in, Okkerse was killed while swimming/snorkeling by a 12-foot (3.7 meters) alligator at, After an 11-foot alligator appeared at Burkarts Marina in, A man fleeing police by jumping into a retention pond adjacent to the, Her body was pulled out of an alligator's mouth by friends and relatives in a springhead at Juniper Wayside Park in the, Her dismembered body was found floating in a canal between Markham County Park and State Road 84 in, He was killed while swimming in the Apollo waterway in, Fishermen discovered Owen's body about 12 miles (19km) from his, She was killed by a 7' 11" (2.4 m) alligator while swimming in a retention pond at Lee Memorial Health Park in, She was attacked by a 12' 3" (3.7 m) alligator while working on landscaping along Poinciana Circle, He was killed by a 10' 4" (3.1 m) alligator while swimming in the, He was attacked by an alligator while walking his dog on a trail between two wetland areas near the, She wandered away from her fenced back yard and was killed 700 feet from her home on, He was killed in a pond near his residence in. Large town center-type project planned for North Charleston near new I-26 interchange, Strikers protest Dollar General store in Irmo, sign of latest labor advocacy in SC, Hot chicken taking over Columbia restaurant spot; new coffee place gets ready to brew, Legendary football coach Jerry Brown out at Berkeley High School, South Carolina Supreme Court on track to be all male for the first time in 35 years, Details for Donald Trump's first SC 2024 presidential campaign event announced, Party like it's 1832: SC Statehouse's far right pushes nullification. Do - enjoy viewing and photographing wild alligators from a safe distance of at least 30 feet or more. The City of Seabrook has been receiving several reports of alligator sightings in and around the Pine Gully Channel and tells residents it is important to remember not to panic when you see an alligator. Alligator attacks are rare but not surprising, Major Viens said of the area. Dont - kill, harass, molest or attempt to move alligators. He was killed while swimming in the Peace River Canal. Seabrook residents warned about alligators. Hunting pressure increases wariness and avoidance of people. High 69F. If so, they created a potential alligator problem and could be breaking state regulations. Do - closely supervise children when playing in or around water. In spring and summer, alligators are moving to breed and find new habitat. A man was seriously injured when he was bitten by an alligator in a Florida pond, officials said. 3 days: $27.00. Drain ponds and borrow pits where appropriate and permitted. A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE TOLD YOU THE DEADLY ALLIGATOR ATTACK IN BLUFFTON A FAMILY'S DOG KILLED. Roger Antonio, a spokesman for the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. Alligators do not become tame in captivity and handling even small ones may result in bites. One officer was able. A woman killed by an alligator at a South Carolina pond told a friend she wanted to get close to the animal and didnt scream as it attacked her and dragged her into the The Beaufort County Sheriffs Office responded to a 911 call at 11:15 a.m. on Monday from a Sun City Hilton Head resident who reported that a large alligator was guarding a human body. WebCynthia Covert, 58, died Friday in a vicious alligator attack on Kiawah Island. However, there are occasions when certain alligators become "a nuisance" and must be handled by the proper authorities. In that time, just the 2016 and 2018 attacks were fatal. A similar number had to be killed in similar situations. In August 2018, South Carolina saw its second fatal alligator attack in two years, when a 45-year-old woman was killed at a resort community on Hilton Head Island. Many serious injuries have involved badly damaged and broken arms on humans and legs on animals. It was at least the fourth deadly alligator attack in the United States so far this year. It is a violation of state law to do so. Let us help you find what you're looking for. Give us a call today or order your rental bikes for Kiawah and He's a native Angeleno and previously covered crime and courts for the Press-Telegram in Long Beach, CA. This provides federal protection for alligators but allows state-approved management and control programs. Cynthia Covert been drinking or on drugs? ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Females tend their nests and sometimes defend them against intruders, including humans. Samsung TV screensaver city. Alligators can be legally taken only by individuals with proper licenses or permits. Shes the third person to die from an alligator encounter in the history of the state, according to S.C. Department of Natural Resources records. While he was unaware of the details of Mondays alligator attack, Mr. Butfiloski said that such attacks typically happen when a person is near the edge of a body of water, and occur more frequently when a person is accompanied by a pet. Bulkheads along edges of lakes and waterways. Most Texans in "gator country" will live in close proximity to these native reptiles with no confrontations. It is not uncommon for alligators to pursue top-water fishing lures, and this activity does not constitute a threat to humans. Alligators may see your pet as an easy food source. WebAlligator Attacks Are on the Rise in South Carolina . mmajchrowicz@postandcourier.com Covertmade no sound as the alligator pulled her under, the woman told police. Alligators quickly become conditioned to humans, especially when food is involved. Viable alligator populations are found in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Covert fell into the water at some point. Do - inform others that feeding alligators create problems for others who want to use the water for recreational purposes. The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is one of 22 crocodilian species worldwide. Sometimes alligators bite or eat previously drowned persons. "A deputy on scene dispatched and retrieved the alligator.". Follow him on Twitter @GregoryYYee. We like to keep things as simple as possible. Read moreHistoric Beaufort park to see improvements, thanks to grants, The Post and Courier If you see a large alligator in your favorite swimming hole or pond, do not swim with it. The American alligator is federally classified as threatened due to similarity of appearance to other endangered and threatened crocodilians. Relocation is not always a viable option, as by nature these animals are territorial. The City of Seabrook has been receiving several reports of alligator sightings in and around the Pine Gully Channel and Trapping One officer was able to shoot the animal as it surfaced again, police said. American crocodiles and caimans are olive-brown in color and have more pointed snouts. Ponds and waterways at golf courses and high-density housing create a similar problem when alligators become accustomed to living near people. Your pet will naturally be curious, and the alligator may see an easy food source. Shed worked as a stylist at Prime Cuts Salon on Seabrook Island, according to her Facebook page. Investigators asked the friend if Covert had been drinking alcohol or if she was on drugs, and the witness said Covert came to her home with a glass of wine and that was the only thing she saw. [1], List of fatal alligator attacks in the United States, J.N. They said the trash can was in the garage, and they had no idea how it got in there. The first one was not fatal, she added. Cynthia Covert, 58, of Johns Island died in the attack Friday afternoon on Kiawah Island, Charleston County deputies said. JESSAG- T SO IF YOU SEE AN ALLIGATOR SUN BATING- DO NOT, A large gator snarled traffic in Hilton Head, Bonnie Gutman got this photograph of the alligator crossing Seabrook Drive in Hilton Head Plantation.As far as we know, no one was hurt. Dont - swim at night or during dusk or dawn when alligators most actively feed. She was killed while walking along the shore of Hidden Lake. Alligators that leave the banks of rivers and streams to spend time near homes, livestock or other structured areas are considered nuisance alligators and Texas Parks and Wildlife should be contacted by calling 281-842-8100. They can be found in almost any type of fresh water, but population densities are greatest in wetlands with an abundant food supply and adjacent marsh habitat for nesting. Range and Habitat "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=47402'; Females lay a single clutch of 30 to 50 eggs in a mound of vegetation from early June to mid-July. The American alligator is distinguished from the American crocodile and caiman by its more rounded snout and black and yellow-white coloration. Gregory Yee covers the city of Charleston. WebAlligators Reports of alligator sightings are common in Seabrook, especially around the Pine Gully Channel. Most alligators can be easily scared away from boats or fishing lures. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Read moreWater utility tells Bluffton residents brown water is safe to drink. However, there are occasions when certain alligators become "a nuisance" and must be handled by the proper authorities. Give us a call to inquire about delivery times or you can place your order here on the website. Alligators are not normally aggressive toward humans, but can and will occasionally attack humans and cause serious injury or death. 'He's eating another gator? Never make the mistake of thinking that an alligator is slow and lethargic. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WJCL-TV. Alligators tend to be more active at night, Mr. Butfiloski said, and come out around dusk. Relocating problem animals to other areas often create greater problems. So please, stay away from alligators, do not have to comfort them for any reason.. Wire mesh fences. Minimize emergent vegetation. A few weeks ago, a deadly alligator attack happened in Bluffton, where a family dog was killed. Most Texans in "gator country" will live in close proximity to these native reptiles with no confrontations. The American alligator was once very common in rivers, creeks, and backwater sloughs of East and South Texas. Usually, these smaller alligators will move further on in a week or two. They have hormones ranging, and they can be absolutely anywhere. Alligators are among the largest animals in North America. Covert was employed with Prime Cuts Salon in Seabrook Island, South Carolina, at the time of her deaths. But by then it was too late as the alligator lunged behind the 58 year old woman as she sought to make her way away from the pond. Kiawah Island Mayor Craig Weaver described the tragedy as one that couldve been prevented. Alligators are rarely found south of the Rio Grande drainage. THEY HAVE HORMONES RANGING, AND THEY CAN BE ABSOLUTELY ANYWHERE. She was killed by one or more alligators at Lake Serenity, He was killed while wading in the Loxahatchee River at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in.