Florida Alligator Attacks Kill One, Injure Two Including Child

A series of alligator attacks in Florida has left one woman dead and two people injured, one of them a minor. The first incident occurred on June 21 in the Rainbow River in Marion County when an alligator bit a diver, prompting officials to close the river while the animal was located and later killed by a wildlife officer.

Less than a week later, a second attack happened on the Econlockhatchee River near the Bar Street trail in the Little Big Econ state forest, Seminole County. An adult woman was bitten while swimming, suffered severe injuries and was later pronounced dead. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed that multiple agencies and a professional problem‑alligator catcher are working to capture any remaining dangerous alligators. The agency reiterated safety advice: keep a safe distance, never feed alligators, swim only in designated areas, and keep pets on a leash away from the water.

FWC noted that the alligator mating season, which runs from April through June, can increase animal activity and the likelihood of encounters with people, especially as more residents move into waterfront properties.