A 71-year-old Winter Garden man died after a nearly 12-foot alligator pulled him from the shore of Lake Apopka on Friday, Oct. 16, making him the second person killed by an alligator in Florida this year. Steven Hamilton was fishing at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park, about 15 miles northwest of Orlando, when he was attacked around 5 p.m. EDT, according to The Associated Press.

The Orange County Medical Examiner's Office has since ruled the death an accident caused by blunt force injury to his left leg and drowning, WKMG reported on Oct. 19. The report notes Hamilton had been holding a fish he caught while trying to take a photo of himself when the alligator struck.

Using state data, the AP counts 34 people killed by alligators in Florida since 1948, including both 2026 deaths. That works out to roughly one death every two years in a state where millions of people live near alligator-inhabited lakes, canals and ponds, a reminder that the risk is real but small.

A Shoreline Attack on a Lake Full of Alligators

Rescuers faced a difficult scene. Other active alligators in the water complicated efforts to reach Hamilton, and his body was recovered about two hours later, Winter Garden Fire Chief Jose Gainza told FOX35. Police Capt. Michael Mason said authorities had no advance warning that an alligator was near the shore, possibly because the lake is home to large numbers of them.

"Keep your distance," Mason urged residents, warning that an alligator may look docile but can be dangerous.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said a contracted nuisance alligator trapper removed an 11-foot-8-inch alligator from the area, and the agency and Winter Garden police are continuing a joint investigation. Lake Apopka, one of Florida's largest lakes, has been the focus of a long restoration effort, and its marshes and shallow edges provide abundant alligator habitat.

The earlier 2026 death came in June, when Brittany Clark, 31, was killed near her Oviedo home by a 13-foot alligator. Recent years have included a 61-year-old woman tipped from her canoe in 2025 and an 85-year-old woman dragged from her backyard while walking her dog in 2023.

Anglers at the Water's Edge Face Particular Risk

Fatal attacks are uncommon, and FWC says plainly that "Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida."Still, the circumstances in several deaths share a pattern: a person at or in the water's edge, often near dusk, in a lake with a dense alligator population.

Shoreline fishing adds specific risks — most of them tied to time spent at the edge. Anglers stand at the edge for long periods, often in the late afternoon and evening when alligators are more active. Struggling fish, discarded bait, and fish scraps can attract alligators, and an alligator that associates people with food can lose its natural wariness. Kneeling, bending down to land a fish, or turning away from the water for a photo puts a person low and close to the shoreline.

Older adults, people fishing alone and pet owners walking dogs along canals and ponds face higher consequences if something goes wrong. Residents of communities built around retention ponds, from Orlando's suburbs to Tampa and Jacksonville, encounter alligators far more often than visitors to beaches or cities.

Congress Weighs the Alligator's Federal Listing

The deaths have renewed a policy debate. After Clark's death in June, Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Steube of Florida introduced a resolution asking the Comptroller General and the U.S. Department of the Interior to study how the American alligator's federal listing as "threatened due to similarity of appearance" affects Florida's ability to remove nuisance alligators from residential and commercial waterways.

That listing is not a sign the alligator is in trouble — quite the opposite. Steube and wildlife officials note the species has been fully recovered since 1987. It remains on the federal list mainly because its hides and products look similar to those of the American crocodile, which is still protected, so the listing helps prevent illegal trade.

Supporters argue that the study could clarify whether federal rules slow removals near homes. Others note that Florida already runs one of the nation's largest nuisance alligator programs under state authority. The resolution calls only for a study, not a change in status, and it has not yet received a vote.

Steps That Lower the Risk Around Florida Lakes

FWC advises swimming only in designated areas during daylight, keeping pets leashed and away from the water, and never feeding alligators, which is also illegal in Florida. Anglers can reduce risk by keeping a few steps back from the edge, fishing with a partner, disposing of fish scraps in trash cans rather than the water, and staying alert while landing a catch or taking photos.

Warning signs include an alligator that approaches people, lingers near a fishing spot or shows no fear. Anyone who believes an alligator poses a threat to people, pets or property should call FWC's Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). In an attack or emergency, call 911. Do not attempt to capture or kill an alligator yourself.

FWC records every bite in its historical alligator bite data, and the Lake Apopka case will be added once the investigation closes. Nature World News will also track whether Steube's resolution advances in Congress.

The bottom line: Florida's toll remains small against the number of people who live near alligators, but distance from the water's edge, daylight activity and quick reporting of bold alligators are the most reliable protections.

What Readers Want to Know

What happened on Lake Apopka?

Steven Hamilton, 71, was attacked and killed by a nearly 12-foot alligator while fishing from shore at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park in Winter Garden on Oct. 16.

What did the medical examiner find?

The Orange County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death an accident caused by blunt force injury to the left leg and drowning.

How many people have alligators killed in Florida?

Thirty-four since 1948, including two in 2026, according to AP's count of state data.

Why are shoreline anglers at risk?

They stand at the water's edge for long periods, often near dusk, and fish or bait can attract alligators.

What is the similarity of appearance listing?

A federal threatened listing that protects the recovered American alligator mainly because it resembles the American crocodile, which helps prevent illegal trade.

Who do I call about a dangerous alligator?

FWC's Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286. Call 911 in an emergency.