The large alligator was spotted “near the edge of a pond” at Sun City Hilton Head, an adults-only community, “guarding what is believed to be a person,” the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said. Responders found the gator and a dead person, the sheriff’s office said. The victim has not been identified. The gator is still being recovered from the lake, according to the sheriff’s office. Alligators are active in the spring and summer because when temperatures rise, their metabolism increases and they forage, Melody Kilborn, a spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told ABC News last month. Kilborn urged people to follow these safety tips: alligators are most active at night, so they only swim in designated swimming areas during the day. Never feed an alligator. and keep your pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge. ABC News’ Darren Reynolds contributed to this report.
