Florida wildlife officials have confirmed that DNA from Brittany Clark, 31, matches that of a 13-foot alligator captured following a deadly attack on the Econlockhatchee River on June 28. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) stated that laboratory testing provided the conclusive link.
Clark was swimming near the Barr Street Trailhead in the Little Big Econ State Forest when the alligator attacked. She was transported to a hospital as a trauma alert but succumbed to her injuries en route, according to officials.
A preliminary report from the Orange County Medical Examiner's Office indicated that Clark was in shoulder-deep water with her boyfriend and another friend when the alligator seized her arm and began what investigators described as a "death roll." Her boyfriend attempted to intervene, but the alligator pulled them both underwater before releasing Clark. He then managed to bring her to shore and call for emergency services.
Following the incident, FWC trappers captured and killed two large alligators, measuring 12.5 feet and 13 feet. Subsequent DNA analysis linked the larger alligator to bite marks found on Clark's arm.
The FWC noted that serious alligator attacks are uncommon in Florida, where the reptiles inhabit freshwater bodies across all 67 counties. While not speculating on the cause of this specific attack, officials mentioned that alligators can exhibit increased territorial behavior during their mating season, which typically occurs from April through June.
Wildlife officials recommend maintaining a safe distance from alligators, keeping pets leashed and away from water edges, and swimming only in designated areas during daylight hours. They also emphasize never feeding alligators, as this is illegal and dangerous, and can lead alligators to associate people with food sources, potentially necessitating their removal from the wild.