{"id":782250,"date":"2026-05-08T15:50:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T15:50:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/782250\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T15:50:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T15:50:21","slug":"heres-what-causes-nearly-every-gator-attack-in-florida-experts-warn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/782250\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s what causes nearly every gator attack in Florida, experts warn"},"content":{"rendered":"

ORLANDO, Fla.<\/strong> \u2013 A study released by the University of Florida has revealed exactly what\u2019s responsible for the vast majority of alligator attacks in the state.<\/p>\n

While alligator attacks are relatively rare, there have still been nearly 500 attacks reported<\/a> in total since 1948, state officials report. Around 30 of those were fatal.<\/p>\n

But UF researchers issued a release last year<\/a> explaining the leading cause of these alligator bites. As it turns out, \u201crisky human behavior\u201d is what led to 96% of recorded incidents.<\/p>\n

According to the study, most bites happened when people were swimming or wading in areas where alligators were known to live.<\/p>\n

[RELATED: <\/b>How many people have been killed by alligators in Florida? The number may surprise you<\/b><\/a>]<\/b><\/p>\n

On the flip side, simply walking near water or being present on land resulted in far fewer attacks, researchers claimed.<\/p>\n

The researchers also said the results of the study show that alligators aren\u2019t looking for trouble. Rather, people swimming, splashing or otherwise entering in these bodies of water triggered the reptiles\u2019 natural response to defend itself or hunt.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe takeaway from this study is that many bites can be prevented if humans are aware of their surroundings and minimize risky behaviors, such as walking small pets near bodies of water or swimming where alligators are known to be present,\u201d UF Prof. Frank Mazzotti said.<\/p>\n

Keeping these points in mind is especially important now, as mating season for alligators<\/a> in Florida runs through June, making these practices all the more dangerous.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, below is a list of fatal alligator bites in Florida and how they happened.<\/p>\nYearNameLocationManner of Death<\/tr>\n\n\u201973<\/td>\nSharon Holmes, 16<\/td>\nOscar Scherer Park
Sarasota County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while swimming in the lake.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201977<\/td>\nGeorge Leonard, 52<\/td>\nPeace River Canal
Charlotte County<\/b><\/td>\nSeized on the arm while swimming in the canal.
He died three days later of complications.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201978<\/td>\nPhillip Rastrellia, 14<\/td>\nHidden River Canal
Martin County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while swimming across the canal.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201984<\/td>\nRobert Crespi, 11<\/td>\nUnnamed Canal
St. Lucie County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while swimming in the canal.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201985<\/td>\nPaul Mirabito, 27<\/td>\nWellington C27 Canal
Palm Beach County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while swimming in the canal.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201987<\/td>\nGeorge Cummings, 29<\/td>\nWakulla River
Wakulla County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while snorkeling in the river.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201988<\/td>\nErin Glover, 4<\/td>\nHidden Lake
Charlotte County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while standing at the water\u2019s edge.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201993<\/td>\nBradley Weidenhamer, 10<\/td>\nLoxahatchee River
Martin County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while wading in the river at Jonathan Dickinson State Park.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201997<\/td>\nAdam Binford, 3<\/td>\nLake Ashby
Volusia County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while playing along the lake shore.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201901<\/td>\nSamuel Wetmore, 70<\/td>\nUnnamed Pond
Sarasota County<\/b><\/td>\nFound dead at a pond near his home in Venice.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201901<\/td>\nAlexandria Murphy, 2<\/td>\nLake Cannon
Polk County<\/b><\/td>\nFound dead at the lake.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201901<\/td>\nRobert Steele, 82<\/td>\nUnnamed Wetland
Lee County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while walking his dog along the water\u2019s edge
near his home in Sanibel on Sept. 11.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201903<\/td>\nBrian Griffin, 12<\/td>\nDead River
Lake County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while swimming near a boat ramp.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201904<\/td>\nJanie Melsek, 54<\/td>\nUnnamed Pond
Lee County<\/b><\/td>\nSeized by an alligator while landscaping near
the water\u2019s edge. Died of complications from the
bite afterward.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201905<\/td>\nDonald Owen, 56<\/td>\nSix Pound Pond
Polk County<\/b><\/td>\nFound dead at the pond near Lakeland.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201905<\/td>\nKevin Murray, 41<\/td>\nUnnamed Canal
Charlotte County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while swimming at the canal in Port Charlotte.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201906<\/td>\nYovoy Suarez-Jimenez, 28<\/td>\nNorth New River Canal
Broward County<\/b><\/td>\nFound dead along the canal in Sunrise.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201906<\/td>\nJudy Cooper, 42<\/td>\nEast Lake Woodlands
Pinellas County<\/b><\/td>\nFound dead in an unnamed canal in Oldsmar.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201906<\/td>\nAnnmarie Campbell, 23<\/td>\nOcala National Forest
Lake County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while snorkeling in Juniper Run.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201907<\/td>\nJusto Padron, 36<\/td>\nMiccosukee Indian Reservation
Miami-Dade County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while trying to evade police by swimming across a pond at the reservation.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201915<\/td>\nJames Okkerse, 61<\/td>\nBlue Spring Run
Volusia County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while snorkeling in Orange City.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201916<\/td>\nLane Greaves, 2<\/td>\nSeven Seas Lagoon
Orange County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while playing along the shoreline. Two alligators were removed.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201918<\/td>\nShizuka Matzuki, 47<\/td>\nSilver Lakes Rotary Nature Park
Broward County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while walking her dogs along the water\u2019s edge of an unnamed lake.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201919<\/td>\nJardan Battle, 31<\/td>\nRetention Pond
Lee County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while trying to evade police by swimming across the pond in Fort Myers.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201922<\/td>\nSean McGuiness, 49<\/td>\nTaylor Park
Pinellas County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while retrieving golf frisbees. Two alligators were removed.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201922<\/td>\nRose Weigand, 80<\/td>\nBoca Royale Golf Course
Sarasota County<\/b><\/td>\nKilled while gardening at her home. Two alligators were removed.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201923<\/td>\nSabrina Peckham, 41<\/td>\nLocal Waterway
Pinellas County<\/b><\/td>\nFound dead in a nearby waterway. Remains were recovered by deputies.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\u201923<\/td>\nGloria Serge, 85<\/td>\nSpanish Lakes Fairway
St. Lucie County<\/b><\/td>\nHer dog was attacked while on a walk.
She was pulled into the water while trying to rescue the dog.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

The best way to keep safe from an alligator attack is to avoid them entirely.<\/p>\n

To keep safe from alligator attacks, the University of Florida<\/a> offers these tips:<\/p>\n