Living in Florida, we have to share our space with a very large reptile, the American alligator. Because of Florida’s booming population growth, people and alligators are constantly forced to cross paths, increasing the chances of conflict. Read More
Feeding of Alligators in Florida is illegal. Statute 372.667 makes it a misdemeanor to feed Alligators or Crocodiles. Feeding of alligators causes them to lose their natural fear of humans.
Knowing where alligators live, how they behave and what you can do to avoid conflict with alligators is key to sharing space safely.
The key to staying safe is being alert to the possibility of alligators being present. Every open body of water in Florida may contain Alligators.
Its very important to keep children and pets away from the water’s edge wherever alligators are likely to be present. Do not allow dogs to swim or explore waters that are known to have alligators because dogs look like prey to alligators. There are far more alligator attacks on dogs than on humans. An alligator’s prey selection seems based mostly on size of the potential prey animal, not so much on a keen recognition of specific animals as prey or non-prey.
It is illegal to feed alligators. When humans feed alligators, it causes the alligators to lose their natural fear of humans and to associate humans with food. It doesn’t matter if people feed them human-food like marshmallows or throw them fish guts when cleaning fish, it’s all bad. It changes the alligator’s behavior.
Normally, alligators avoid humans, but alligators that have been fed by humans will move toward humans and can become aggressive. Alligators that have been fed by humans are dangerous and should be reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
A Guide To Living With Alligators
FWC Alligator management program
In May, 2017, A 10-year-old Florida girl fended off an alligator when it chomped onto her leg by ramming her fingers up the animal’s nose and prying the alligator’s mouth open, state wildlife officials said. Juliana Ossa was scared when the nearly 9-foot alligator bit her left leg and wouldn’t let go as she was sitting down in shallow water at an Orlando lake Saturday. She said she first struck the alligator on the head, but the reptile didn’t loosen its grip. Then she remembered a life-saving technique she was taught at Gatorland.
“I stuck my two fingers up its nose so it couldn’t breathe — it had to breathe from its mouth — and he opened it, so it let my leg out,” she said.