Alligators and Avoiding an Up Close and Personal Experience with the Mighty Reptile

Florida is a favorite vacation destination for many people. It is usually much warmer in the winter and a great escape from the colder climates found in northern latitudes. Everyone knows what an alligator is, but do you know the best ways to avoid an up close and personal interview?

Baby alligators are cute and people love to see them, but his daddy is a different story. A male gator can reach lengths of fourteen feet and weigh a thousand pounds or more. Any alligator over four feet long should be treated with caution and respect.

When nearing fresh or brackish waters in Florida, approach with caution and use common sense. An alligator is a surprise predator and relies on meals coming to them.

Alligators can be found in any fresh or brackish water, such as, golf course water hazards, canals, lakes, marshes, rivers, swamps, creeks and ponds. Alligators can be found in every county in Florida, and just because you don't see one does not mean they are not there. They have even been known to invade a swimming pool to cool off when the need arises.

An alligator is very dark in color and blends in with the water very well and can lie on the bottom waiting for a meal up to two hours at a time.

Here are a few tips to improve your chances of enjoying you Florida vacation without having it ruined by a tragic mistake.

Never allow children or pets to play near water or swim in areas not marked for such use and never allow it unsupervised.

Avoid swimming except in broad daylight, alligators are primarily nocturnal and are most active at night. Always swim in marked areas. Never swim in any area that may contain a large alligator

Never feed an alligator, it only dispels their natural fear of humans and will cause them to associate humans and food, not to mention, that an alligator could care less if your fingers are part of the snack. Feeding them will only cause the alligator to be destroyed in the long run and feeding them could ruin a perfect Florida vacation.

Dispose of all fish scraps or food scraps in enclosed containers, dumping scraps in the water is the same as feeding them and will only cause problems for the alligator later.

If you do find yourself near an alligator run straight away from it, any person in fairly good shape can out run a gator. They can put on a short burst of speed, but it doesn't last and they really are not that quick on their feet. An alligator does have a very quick and explosive lunge however, that extends about the length of their body, they are surprise predators.

An alligator can tolerate salt water for short periods as well so keep that in mind when fishing bayous or near inlets from fresher water in Florida.

There have been 275 unprovoked attacks in Florida since 1948 and 17 fatalities from alligators. Every year Florida's Fish and Wildlife Commission gets around 18,000 alligator related complaints about a gator being someplace it shouldn't be and can result in the alligator being euthanized.

It is estimated that there are more than 1.25 million alligators of all sizes living in the wild in Florida.

If you do get bitten, no matter if it is only a scratch, see a doctor and have it treated. Alligators have some pretty serious personal hygiene issues and can cause serious infection in any wound.

Enjoy your visit and have a great time on your Florida vacation! Following these tips will keep it healthy for both you and our alligators.

This information was gathered from the Florida Fish and Wildlife commission's web site.
http://www.myfwc.com/WildlifeHabitats/Alligator_index.htm

A children's informational coloring book can be downloaded at www.myfwc.com/gators/kids_only/aaa_booklet.pdf