Son of Florida woman who lost arm in gator attack blames tourists and social media for bolder gators

A Florida grandmother's severe alligator attack has renewed questions about whether the way people act around wildlife can increase the chances of dangerous encounters.

The victim's son said tourists and social media thrill-seekers may be contributing to alligators becoming less afraid of people.

Here's what to know

Dina Spann, 58, had her right arm amputated below the elbow after an alligator attacked her in Silver River in Marion County, according to the New York Post. 

Spann, who was in a prohibited swimming area, also had at least one finger on her left hand torn off.

Her son, Zach Guerrina, said the attack was especially jarring because his family had spent years in the river without ever experiencing anything like it.

Guerrina told the Post, "Growing up in Florida, that has never been a thing. I'm in the water all the time and I've never had a gator want to approach." 

Guerrina then added that, "We've got a lot of tourists down here and a lot of people that's moved to Florida that've never seen an alligator before … There's literally videos of people petting alligators. When you do that, these things lose fear of humans and if it gets close enough to you, it's gonna bite you."

A state-contracted trapper team later removed a 9-foot, 8-inch alligator from the river, and the waterway was reopened to the public.

More background

When people feed, touch, or crowd wild animals, the risk increases for both humans and the animals themselves. Once animals become habituated to people, they are more likely to be removed or killed after aggressive encounters.

The Post noted that this has been an especially violent year between people and alligators.

On June 28, construction worker Brittany Clark, 31, was killed after a 13-foot alligator attacked her in the Econlockhatchee River in Seminole County. Meanwhile, Brodie Terry, 11, of Pennsylvania, lost his hand after an 8-foot, 7-inch alligator bit him in Marion County on June 27 as he was preparing to put a fish back in the water, per the Post.

The clearest safety measures are also the simplest: Never feed or pet alligators, keep a wide distance, and obey posted warnings in areas where swimming is prohibited. Those rules are meant not only to protect people, but also to keep wildlife from associating humans with food or easy contact.

People who are fishing or boating should also use extra caution near shorelines, avoid lingering at the water's edge, and closely supervise children and pets. Even in places that feel familiar, wild animals can behave unpredictably.

Florida already uses contracted trappers to remove nuisance alligators, as happened after the Silver River attack. Guerrina later told the Post he believes the state should issue more hunting permits, though any broader response would likely need to balance public safety, habitat conditions, and the ecological role alligators play.

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