On June 28, Brittany Clark was fatally attacked by an alligator in Florida. The incident occurred when the 31-year-old woman went for a swim in the Econlockhatchee River with her boyfriend and best friend after hiking in the Little Big Eco State Forest, Grant Eller, a lieutenant with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, reported in a press conference.
The group was cooling down, kneeling in about three feet of water when the alligator attacked, biting both her arms. The friend called 911 while the boyfriend was actively trying to remove Clark’s arms from the mouth of the giant gator.
The emergency dispatcher ensured them help was on the way and asked if her arms were still attached. “One of them is like, very hanging on (by a) thread, and the other was off,” the friend responded.
The pair were able to remove Clark from the water and alligator and perform CPR until first responders arrived. Devastatingly, Clark died before reaching the hospital.
On Monday, following the attack, FWC announced that any alligators that associate humans with a food source must be immediately reported and removed from the wild. “Multiple agencies and a contracted nuisance alligator trapper have responded to the scene,” FWC said regarding the ongoing investigation. Officials used aerial tactics to locate, trap, and kill two alligators in the area measuring 12 and 13 feet long.
Witnesses’ descriptions of a “very large alligator” led wildlife officials to believe one of the two trapped was involved in the attack. The 13-foot alligator was located directly at the scene of the incident, while the slightly smaller of the two was found nearby. Genetic samples from both gators were sent to a lab in Gainesville to determine if one was responsible.
As for what prompted the brutal event, wildlife officials can only speculate. It is nearing the end of mating season when gators tend to become very territorial. And while this group did nothing to antagonize an attack, there is always some inherent risk when swimming in Florida waters.
In fact, there were two other non-fatal alligator attacks within the last week in Florida. A snorkeler was bitten along the Rainbow River, and a child was bitten on the hand while fishing on the Ocklawaha River.
MeatEater sends its condolences to those impacted by this tragic incident.
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