Peacefully Co-existing with Florida Alligators

Many out-of-towners or those interested in relocating to Florida hear about Florida alligators and think twice about it. I hope this article will shed a little light on alligator behavior and help people feel more at ease.

Just as there are bears in the mountains, coyotes in the canyons and snakes in the dessert, so too are there are alligators in the fresh water marshes, swamps and lakes of Florida.

Florida alligators play an important part in the ecology of Florida's wetlands and there was a time when the alligator population in Florida was so low that gators were put on the endangered species list, which is no longer the case.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida has experienced a huge alligator population surge in recent years, resulting in increased interactions between alligators, humans and their pets.

Nevertheless, gators are something that a lot of Floridians must contend with. They were here long before we were and in order to safely co-exist with them, we need a good understanding of alligator behavior.

Appearance and Size

Florida Alligators are very ominous looking creatures with their big toothy grin, enormous jaw, slit-looking pupils (nocturnal animal that prefers to hunt at night), long reptilian tail and at times, massive size. The average size of an alligator can be anywhere from 6 -13 feet long and male gators can grow up to 18 feet long.

Florida Alligators larger than six feet are the greatest potential hazard to humans and pets. Gators less than four feet long are considered to be a lesser threat.

Alligators that are larger than six feet are the greatest potential hazard to humans and pets. Gators less than four feet long are considered to be a lesser threat. Even smaller-sized alligators are not to be reckoned with because they can be just as aggressive and bite.

Why Alligators will Attack

Gators will attack for different reasons.

• They are very territorial and will defend their territory, nest, young and themselves.
• They will also attack humans and pets if they are hungry enough, although it's not a preference.
• Some alligators attack humans or pets because they mistake them for their usual prey.
• Others will simply grab or attack anything that moves.

Florida Alligator Safety and Common Sense

You can peacefully co-exist with Florida alligators by following a few rules.

• If you see a gator, it's best not to get too close - walk away and leave it alone.
• You never want to feed alligators or allow others to feed them. It's actually illegal to feed alligators and by doing so, people create unnecessary problems for themselves and for others.
• You never want to feed other types of wildlife near waters known to have alligators or leave food scraps along the shoreline.
• You never want to allow your pets to swim in or run near waters that are known to be a natural habitat for larger alligators. Since most dogs are about the same size as a larger alligator's natural prey, they might attack.
• Never swim or allow your pets to swim in non-designated swimming areas or grassy waters, where there might be alligators. Not all alligator habitats have "No Swimming" or "Alligator Warning" signs posted.
• After the sun goes down, you never want to go swimming, water skiing or walk dogs or small children near waters that are known to have alligators, since gators are nocturnal and feed most actively during the evening hours.
• You never want to take an alligator out of its natural habitat or try and keep it as a pet, which happens to be illegal. Alligators can not be tamed and even a smaller one can turn aggressive and cause a nasty bite.
• If you should get chased by an alligator, run away from it at a 45-degree angle. This makes it difficult for the gator to move its heavy body in another direction - not an easy task.

Florida Nuisance Alligators

Florida Alligators that are longer than four feet and exhibit aggressive behavior are classified as a nuisance and can be trapped by licensed nuisance alligator trappers. Individuals can call 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286) to submit a complaint regarding a nuisance alligator.

However, if you see an Floridaalligator minding its own business such as sunning itself on a bank or swimming around in the water, there is no real reason to report it. You should only report gators that are exhibiting aggressive behavior, actively causing problems or posing a threat to public safety.

Gators will often show up in unexpected places like your patio, garage, backyard or swimming pool and will usually leave on their own accord, in search for prey or a more suitable habitat.

When it comes to peacefully co-existing with Florida Alligators, common sense and personal responsibility goes a long way.

Article Sources:
http://myfwc.com
http://www.comingbackalive.com