The danger of alligators
Alligator attacks have not been very common in South Carolina, but are becoming more so, due to human growth into their habitats and the growing alligator population.
The phrase “see you later, alligator” is certainly a fun way to say goodbye. In reality, however, alligators are very dangerous animals. While they are common enough in the southeast with a population of five million, they should be treated with respect and avoided. Adult alligators live, on average, 30-50 years and can be anywhere from 10 to 15 feet long. The larger an alligator grows, the more territorial and solitary it will become. Smaller alligators are more tolerant of each other’s presence, so it isn’t uncommon to find several small alligators occupying the same space (Defenders of Wildlife).
Their mating season is from mid-April until June. During these months, alligators can be more aggressive to each other and to humans. The laying and hatching of eggs occurs in August, and the mother will stay with and defend the hatchlings for up to a year (South Carolina Department of Natural Resources).
How to avoid alligator injuries
Though most attacks occur in water, alligators can also sprint short distances on land to attack prey. It is important if you are attacked, nor to let the alligator drag you back into the water, since they are much more dangerous there. Most injuries are done through an alligator’s bite, but they also do a “death roll” by biting a limb of an animal or human and spinning quickly to tear it off. In this scenario, the best thing to do is to grab onto the alligator and spin with it. You can also fight back by repeatedly hitting the nose of the alligator and gouging out its eyes. If running from an alligator, it is important to know that they can climb chain link fences and are able to jump up to six feet high – in and out of water (South Carolina Department of Natural Resources).
There are two different types of alligator attacks: provoked and unprovoked. An unprovoked attack is when an alligator makes first contact with a human, and a provoked attack is when a human is actively trying to make contact with an alligator or disturbs it in some way. It is rare for an alligator to attack unprovoked.
How common are alligator attacks in South Carolina?
“According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), there have been 23 non-fatal encounters between people and alligators, as well as three alligator-related fatalities, between 1976 and 2020” (The State). However, there has been an additional death caused by an alligator attack since that statistic was published.
Recent Attacks
On June 24, 2022, a 75-year-old man, Michael Burstein, was killed in Myrtle Beach by an alligator who lunged at him and pulled him into a retention pond. Alligators were a common sight in this neighborhood, but the attack was unexpected. It was determined by the SCDNR that the alligator was to be killed on site by professionals. Additional details have not yet been released by the Horry County police, so it is unclear whether this attack may have been unprovoked.
This attack is the first fatality caused by alligators since the death of Cynthia Covert on Kiawah Island. She was at a friend’s house when she tried to pet an alligator that was in the pond behind the home. Though her friend did try to pull her from the alligator’s grasp, Cynthia was unfortunately pulled below the water’s surface and drowned (The New York Times). In this case, her death could have been avoided if proper precautions were taken.
Though alligator attacks are rare, they are becoming more frequent due to human growth into their habitats and the growing alligator population. In fact, South Carolina has over 100,000 alligators and they’re now classified as threatened instead of endangered. Now, South Carolina has an alligator hunting season each Fall. About 1,000 licenses are issued each year, but only a few hundred of the normally elusive creatures are taken.
Reduce the Threat of Attack
For most of us, it is important to give these creatures a wide berth. If possible, avoid walking close to the edges of bodies of water where they could live. Listen out for warning signs like bellowing, splashing, and hissing when trying to avoid them. Don’t swim in areas where there are alligators; keep your pets out of their waters and never feed an alligator. Most alligator attacks are provoked, so following these simple steps can reduce the threat of attack. Be safe out there!
Contact The Law Offices of David L. Hood for a Free Wrongful Death Consultation
We all know you can’t sue a gator. However, if someone you care about has died due to someone else’s negligence, please schedule your free consultation by calling The Law Offices of David L. Hood at (843) 491-6025 or filling out our brief online contact form.
We know how difficult it can be to deal with the immediate and long-term effects of a wrongful death. At The Law Offices of David L. Hood, we work hard to make things simple for you. After a free case evaluation, if we believe we can help you and your family, Wrongful Death Attorney David L. Hood, co-counsel, and our team of experts will vigorously pursue your case to get you the best result we can achieve. Let us put our years of experience to work for you!
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