PHOTO BY BRUCE WARRINGTON VIA UNSPLASH.COM
A 31-year-old woman died Sunday after being attacked by an alligator while swimming in the Econlockhatchee River in Seminole County, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The woman was swimming with friends near the Barr Street Trailhead in the Little Big Econ State Forest around 1:30 p.m. when she was bitten. She was transported to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Her identity has not been released.
The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, FWC officers, and a contracted nuisance alligator trapper responded to the scene. FWC officers used a boat and UTV to search for the alligator for several hours before clearing the scene around 7:30 p.m. Today it was announced that one 12-foot-long and another 13-foot-long alligator had been removed from the area by wildlife officials.
The incident is the third recorded alligator bite in Central Florida in the past week. A child was bitten on the hand by an 8-foot-7 alligator while fishing at Nelson’s Outdoor Resort in Umatilla on June 27, and a person was bitten while snorkeling in Marion County’s Rainbow River on June 21. The Marion County alligator was removed.
Warning signs about alligators are posted at the park. Alligator mating season runs from May through June, a period when alligators tend to be more active and may appear in unusual locations.
A University of Florida study released in April 2025 found that the leading cause of alligator attacks in Florida is risky human behavior, with researchers recommending that people avoid entering bodies of water where alligators are known to live.
Anyone concerned about a nuisance alligator can call the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). A gator is generally considered a nuisance if it is at least 4 feet long, is believed to pose a threat to people, pets, or property, or is found somewhere it does not belong, such as a pool or garage.
