Alligator attack kills woman at Kiawah Island, South Carolina police say

A woman is dead following an alligator attack at Kiawah Island on Friday, according to a release from the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded before 5 p.m. to a report that a woman had been killed by an alligator near a pond in the area of Salt Cedar Lane, according to the office.

One of the deputies shot the alligator and “retrieved” it, the release said. Salt Cedar Lane parallels multiple ponds, which are common habitat for alligators in the state.

The victim was identified as 57-year-old Cynthia Covert of Johns Island, Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten told McClatchy News Sunday.

Covert was visiting a home at Kiawah Island Friday, May 1, when she spotted an alligator in a nearby pond and tried to approach it, officials said. It lunged and bit her when she got within 4 feet of the water’s edge, officials said.

She briefly escaped, but the alligator grabbed her again in its jaws and submerged, officials reported.

Deputies shot the alligator when it surfaced with Covert, hitting the animal four times, a report states.

The Associated Press says Covert was a manicurist making a house call at the time of the attack.

Kiawah Island Mayor Craig Weaver issued a statement Sunday saying “an alligator caused death is exceedingly rare on the island.” He also acknowledged growing concern in the community.

“We know we must act responsibly and with care around these animals,” the statement said. “Consequently, it will be important to know and to share with the community the facts and circumstances from this tragedy, so we can avoid experiencing anything like this again.”

South Carolina has had at least three reports in recent weeks of alligators boldly showing up in tourist areas during the COVID-19 outbreak, including a juvenile alligator found roaming beaches at Kiawah Island on April 25. It was captured and no one was harmed, the Town of Kiawah Island reported in a Facebook post.

On March 16, an alligator was recorded strolling among closed shops at a Myrtle Beach strip mall and Folly Beach Public Safety reported it found an alligator on its beach the next day. State wildlife officials advised leaving the gator alone until it decided to go away on its own, Folly Beach officials reported.

Media outlets around the world have reported wildlife leaving the protection of forests and rivers during the pandemic to explore empty streets, including alligators, deer, coyotes, rats and packs of “brawling monkeys.” Many cities across the U.S. have shelter-at-home orders in place, limiting people to essential travel for health and exercise.

Alligator attacks are rare in South Carolina. From 1915 to 2019, there had only been 23 reported attacks in the state, The Island Packet reported.

More than half of those attacks happened in Beaufort County. At the time the article was written, August 2019, Charleston and Berkeley counties both ranked second in number of attacks, according to the outlet.

Attacks most commonly occur near bodies of water, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources alligator program director, Jay Butfiloski, told The Island Packet.

“The key is to pay attention when you’re near a lagoon, especially with kids or pets. Alligators rarely hunt on land and really don’t chase down people far away from a lagoon,” Butfiloski said.

This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 8:07 PM with the headline "Alligator attack kills woman at Kiawah Island, South Carolina police say."