New details revealed about alligator incident at Lake Waccamaw

LAKE WACCAMAW, NC (WWAY) — The Lake Waccamaw Police Department is providing more details on an incident involving a girl and an alligator on Friday, June 13.

Police said on Friday that there were multiple children playing in about 4 feet of water when one exclaimed “something bit me!”

Today, police confirmed that the girl was 12 years old, the alligator was 12 feet in length, and a necropsy was conducted. Any testing of tissue samples (e.g., heavy metals) collected are not directly related to the investigation but commonly performed to learn more about wildlife and environmental health.

Although the alligator’s behavior was unusual, it was not predatory in nature. As such, it is considered an ‘incident’ and not an ‘attack’.

Police responded quickly and worked with the community to identify and dispatch the alligator. Anytime an alligator makes contact with a person, the protocol is to euthanize it regardless of the circumstances.

Incidents involving physical contact between people and alligators are extremely rare in North Carolina.

The new, multi-state supported program GatorWise offers guidance and resources for co-existing with alligators.