San Carlos Park residents in Florida are reeling in shock after a 10-foot-plus alligator in their gated community near Fort Myers grabbed a 71-year-old woman on Sunday, leaving her with a serious bite. She had to be lifeflighted.
San Carlos Park Fire District confirmed the victim, Genie Witze, was attacked at her residence at Cypress Haven Drive in Shadow Wood Preserve.
“We arrived to find a female patient, age 71, with injuries to her extremities from an alligator bite,” said the department.
“She was treated and transported as a trauma alert by Lee Flight.”
A resident of the gated community, Lynn Portnoy, told USA Today that Witze had been tending to her garden when the attack occurred.
"She had her tools in hand. She fought back."
Portnoy added that other residents were aware of the alligator’s presence and reserved caution.
Meanwhile, it has since been reported that Witze was recovering.
The alligator was later captured by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
This incident was the latest in a string of alligator attacks to take place over the past few days in the area.
A 51-year-old Marine, Scott Lahodik, was attacked by a 10-foot-alligator on Friday while he was diving for golf balls in a lake at the Palms Course, Rotunda Golf and Country Club, reported the PGA.
In a separate incident, 10-year-old Jacob Allicock was swimming in the Peace River when an alligator bit his foot.
Commenting on the attacks, Brian Norris from Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission told NBC News that this was a rare occurrence.
“It is odd that there have been so many in a short period of time."
Norris said there were various reasons why Florida has seen an increase in alligator attacks, ranging from female alligators laying eggs in summer, to humans feeding the reptiles.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission biologists are monitoring alligator populations in over 100 Alligator Management Units in Florida.
“By looking at trends statewide, the FWC can better manage and conserve the alligator population and identify critical alligator wetland habitat, long-term population changes or habitat losses,” the organization claimed.
© 2025 Newsmax Finance. All rights reserved.