The incident occurred on Hilton Head Island, marking the second fatal alligator attack in Beaufort County in less than a year. The victim, who remains unidentified, was walking her dog when she was suddenly attacked by the large reptile.
The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a possible alligator attack at a lagoon near the Spanish Wells Golf Club around 9:38 a.m. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the woman's body being guarded by the alligator at the edge of the lagoon.
The presence of the alligator hindered rescue efforts, but it was eventually safely removed from the area, allowing the recovery of the victim's body. The responsible alligator was later euthanized.
Fortunately, the victim's dog was found unharmed, according to a spokesperson from the sheriff's office.
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This tragic incident follows a similar attack in August 2022, when 88-year-old Nancy Ann Jackson Becker was also attacked by an alligator outside her home in Sun City Hilton Head. Beaufort County has experienced a total of four alligator attacks in less than 11 weeks.
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Alligator attacks have been on the rise as human populations continue to increase and encroach upon their natural habitats. South Carolina, in particular, has seen a nearly 30 percent increase in its human population over the past two decades.
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Beaufort County's population has grown by 88 percent between 1990 and 2010, and it has experienced a further 24 percent growth since 2010.
Frank Robb, a renowned "gator trapper" in Florida, spoke about the impact of human population growth on alligator encounters. As more people move into areas surrounding marshes and wildlife habitats, conflicts like these become more common.
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However, Robb emphasized that it is not the alligator's fault, as they do not seek out these interactions.
"The alligator doesn't want to be doing this, and of course, people don't want that type of interaction," Robb stated.
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