I paddle board springs and rivers in Florida at least once a month, usually more often, and have seen many alligators. They always shy away from me. That may explain why this is my first time hearing about an attack of this type.
“While Florida is home to roughly 1.25 million alligators, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has recorded only 26 fatal alligator bites from 1948 to 2021.”
Sounds like the women attacked the gator with their canoe.