A Central Florida woman died from injuries related to an alligator bite this weekend, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife and Conservation Commission (FWC).
The death was just one of three separate alligator incidents across the region over the last few days.
On Sunday, the woman (who was not identified) was swimming with friends in the Econlockhatchee River near the Barr Street Trailhead in the Little Big Econ State Forest, said the FWC, when officers with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and the FWC responded to calls about an alligator bite.
The woman was then taken to the hospital, where she died from her injuries.
According to the FWC, a nuisance alligator trapper was called to the scene, but as of now no alligator has been captured.
“The FWC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the victim during this difficult time,” said the agency in a statement.
Officers with the FWC also responded to an alligator call on Saturday, when a child was bitten on the hand while fishing along the shore at Nelson Fish Camp on the Ocklawaha River. The child was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for their injuries, said the FWC, which added that officers found and euthanized an 8-foot, 7-inch-long alligator.
Both incidents come a few days after a snorkeler was bitten by an alligator while swimming in the Rainbow River in Marion County. The man was taken to the hospital for his injuries and was later released.
Serious injuries, or even death, caused by alligator bites are extremely rare, says the agency. But people should take extra caution during alligator mating season, which is at its height during May and June, depending on temperatures.
During this period, it’s not uncommon to see gators acting more aggressive than usual while they move around looking for mates, says the FWC.
In 2022, a Tampa Bay man was killed by an alligator while searching for a Frisbee in a lake at John S. Taylor Park. And in 2024, a Temple Terrace woman survived after swimming in the Hillsborough River and a large gator grabbed onto her leg.
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This article appears in June 25 – July 01, 2026.
