Predators are cleared from lake near retirement community after woman savaged to death by reptile

A retirement community has had its entire population of alligators cleared out after an 85-year-old woman was stalked and killed by a huge beast in Florida.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission removed four of the reptiles from the gated Spanish Lakes Fairways communities’ lakes after Gloria Serge, 85, died in a brutal attack. 

She was mauled to death by the 10-foot alligator named Henry when she tried to rescue her beloved dog Trooper from the beast.

Henry was later captured and euthanized, with three other reptiles subsequently captured by wildlife officials from the series of interconnected lakes and removed. 

A terrified neighbor fought to try to save Gloria, calling 911 after witnessing the alligator lunching at her after stalking her for 100ft.

Her dog, Trooper, survived the attack, with the reptile being captured and euthanized after her death.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission removed all of the reptiles from the gated Spanish Lakes Fairways communities’ lakes after Gloria Serge, 85, died in a brutal attack

Gloria Serge (pictured) was a grandmother living in the Spanish Lakes Fairways retirement community in Fort Pierce, Florida, when she was killed by an alligator on Monday

Judy Murray, Gloria’s neighbor, told TMZ that she saw authorities removing all of the gators from the communities’ lakes.

But she is not clear on where the alligators were being taken after their removal, with some pictures of the beasts being taped and tied up before officials moved them on.

There are five to six lakes in the community, with Judy saying that she wasn’t normally scared of the alligators.

She added that Gloria might have had a ‘senior moment’ when choosing to walk Trooper along the water – with the pup returning to live with her family.

Spanish Lakes Fairways HOA president Jay Mandelker said the gators had been removed to try and calm jittery residents’ fears.

He told TCPalm: ‘They did so to allay any concerns and to make us realize the precautions we should take with regard to wildlife, alligators in particular.

‘If you’re walking by a lake, a pond, anywhere in Florida, understand, this is Florida, there could be alligators, so do not walk against the edges of any pond or lake, stay a safe distance away.’

Gloria’s final moments were captured on a wildlife camera at the Spanish Lakes Fairways retirement community in Fort Pierce, Florida.

She can be seen walking along the lake with her dog when the alligator surfaces and then lurches at the pair.

The 85-year-old tried to get the dog away from the alligator’s jaws but the gator grabbed her instead and could be seen dragging her into the lake.

Her frightened neighbor Carole Thomas, 76, told Inside Edition that she tried to help the woman while on the phone with 911.

It is unclear where the alligators were being taken after their removal, with some pictures of the beasts being taped and tied up before officials moved them on

Gloria Serge, 85, was walking her dog by the lake in the Spanish Lakes Fairways community in Fort Pierce, Florida on Monday when an alligator attacked her, dragging her into the water

Video released later shows as Serge tried to get her dog away from the alligator’s jaws but the gator grabbed her instead and could be seen dragging her into the lake

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Trooper, the trooper: Pictured is the grandmother’s dog, who was being walked when the alligator attacked. He survived

She said: ‘There’s a woman in the lake. The alligator’s got her! I think she’s gone, oh my God.’

Thomas said she fetched a pole to try and pull the woman to land, but said: ‘There is no way I could have gotten to her sooner.’

She added: ‘It’s horrible for her family. It’s just horrible, horrible. And her friends, I spoke to a couple of her friends yesterday who are devastated.’

Her body was later recovered from the lake.

Local residents told Inside Edition the gator was a neighborhood fixture they called Henry.

Florida authorities are warning residents about walking their pets near the ponds in lakes in the area.

Gloria is the third victim to be killed by an alligator in Florida since last July.

Wildlife experts found the alligator at the bottom of the pond and dragged it out of the water, with one official seen sitting on top of the reptile.

Officials later managed to drag the alligator (pictured), its snout closed shut with rope, across the grass and put it in a truck

Her frightened neighbor Carole Thomas, 76, told Inside Edition that she tried to help the woman while on the phone with 911. She held a pole out to the woman but it was too late

Another elderly woman was killed by two alligators after falling into a pond near her home at the Boca Royale Golf and Country Club in Englewood in July 2022.

The woman, whose identity is not known, was struggling to stay afloat when two alligators were seen swimming toward her. They then grabbed her before she could escape and killed her.

In May 2022, 47-year-old Sean Thomas McGuinness’ body was found missing three limbs at the lake at the John S Taylor Park in Largo, Florida.

Investigators now believe he had gone into the 53-acre freshwater lake looking for UFOs when he was attacked. The park is home to an 18-hole disc golf course, with five holes adjacent to the lake, according to the Miami Herald.

Authorities noted that park management had reported ‘McGuinness was known to frequent the park and enter the lake with disregard to the posted ‘No swimming’ signs.

Officials later managed to drag the alligator, its snout closed shut with rope, across the grass and put it in a truck

Following the attack on Gloria, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said: ‘Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida.

‘The FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) to address complaints concerning specific alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property.

‘People with concerns about an alligator should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).

‘When someone concerned about an alligator calls the Nuisance Alligator Hotline, we will dispatch one of our contracted nuisance alligator trappers to resolve the situation.’