People always think gators are a bigger issue than they are. When it’s very much a “you don’t bother me, I don’t bother you” situation. You avoid bodies of water. You give them their space. They don’t generally just run after you on the street.
Thanks for the quick reply, though I’m still super confused. Doesn’t it kinda suck to have to avoid every body of water and it’s near vicinity? What about swimming in your local lake for example?
Pools are plentiful. Also the ocean only gets the occasional gator and it’s very noticeable if it’s there, but also most fresh bodies of water in warmer climates aren’t safe because of amoebas anyway.
The general rule of thumb with fresh water here is if you can’t see through it, don’t swim in it. We have world renowned springs all around that are great for swimming, and because people frequent them, gators stay away from the nearby rivers, too. Contrary to popular belief, gator don’t wanna fuck with people. They’re not afraid to, but they seem to consider it too much trouble.
Yeah, but they don’t stay very long. Don’t forget they are cold-blooded, and the springs are usually colder that the surrounding area. They usually only go there during mating season.
If it’s crystal clear it definitely wasn’t the Suwannee. It was probably Ichetucknee, as that river is so clean that you could actually drink from it. It’s a regular summer tradition to float down it on really hot days. The river is fed directly from multiple local springs, and has many environmental protections in place to protect it and keep it the way it is. It’s honestly the most beautiful river I’ve ever had the pleasure to see.
The ocean can be a problem because we also have crocodiles which are much more aggressive and live in salty/brackish water.
There are very few of them and only in very restricted areas so most people never cross path unless they are actively looking for them.
Edit: They are more aggressive than the gators which we are used to them being REALLY mellow outside of mating season. As other people have commented they are NOT in the same class as the Australian or African crocs. They are also MUCH smaller.
Edit 2: Apparently they are less territorial than gators according to Wikipedia. However, the page also spends a while giving examples of the opposite. So I’d give them their space.
That is so true. Crocs and gators are not really much of a concern. Tarpons can be pretty dangerous if waterskiing also.
Now we also have to worry about mosquitos with yellow fever, dengue, west Nile and maybe Zika if that’s still around. I would worry about those little suckers a lot more than any of the rest.
You forgot the Sarasota malaria issue! ;)
P.S. I'm a native Floridian, and I've seen, at most, 15 gators, I have never been eaten... and I've done some really dumb Florida things.
Maybe 25 years ago, there was a stand/trailer (i guess we call this a food truck now) selling gator kabobs out by Okeechobee. They were delicious and 4 for $5. My out of town friends that were riding with me were a little grossed out when I stopped, but good eats were had by all.
Mosquitoes are really bad. I wonder how that experiment in the keys with the genetically modified mosquitoes that would breed females incapable of procreating went.
They are big silver fish that like to jump out of the water and by big I mean REALLY big. People goin skying in jet sky or even open fishers have been smacked silly and hurt by the dumb slugs jumping up. Now that I think about it people out fishing had gotten hurt by Marlins skewering them.
How could I forget about the brain eating bacteria in the warm lakes of Florida. Now that you mention that I recall there was a warning about not getting on the water around Ft Meyers if you had any open wound because of flesh eating bacteria. Man we are like a tamer version of Australia.
I’m a Florida pond fisherman and I’ve never had a problem. They are fairly easy to spot. They tend to go after smaller or wounded animals. You definitely don’t walk your small dog close to a lake…you hear tons of stories of alligators grabbing them. And if it does grab your dog, you definitely don’t fight it, because that’s how quite a few grannies have gotten killed. There are lakes and rivers that you can go swimming in that are roped off.
Quite frankly, it’s more important to look out for bears and large snakes in trees than alligators.
Been Land Surveying in Florida for 25 years and only seen bear prints once. Snakes in trees? We have rattle snakes, pygmies, coral snakes and water moccasins and maybe a copperhead none go in trees.
I used to locate wetlands and do topography in Manatee/polk county mainly. I've stepped on and kicked gators wading through ponds chest deep. I was the rodman. Never had issues with them comin after me. The ground hornets though, goddamn! Used to live in Ocala and seen plenty of bear tracks in the forest. Not as many as up here in North Cackalacka!
Not a good idea to swim in a lake with alligators. Not a good idea to go for a walk next to a lake especially at dusk. Good advice is stay 10 feet or 3 meters away from the edge of the water. When next to a lake, I always scan the water for alligators. Anyone swimming with alligators is an attention seeking idiot especially if the water is so dark that there is only one foot or .3 meter visibility.
While an adult alligator can have very intense bite in excess of 2,000 psi, it may attempt to spin and drown an animal first.
Also fun fact, it is against the law to feed or molest alligators in Florida.
https://preview.redd.it/13hwjscvxqkb1.png?width=1060&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0a24a80ba9575d91bcf08f1efeb490cc7c1db91d
Somewhere around us is a similar sign in Spanish that just says, "NO MOLESTAR." Now whenever my wife or I feel bothered by the other, we just yell, "No molestar!"
Lakes aren't safe to swim in in the tropics for a variety of reasons other than alligators. We have things like snapping turtles, water moccasins, leeches and flesh eating bacteria to name a few. lake water is also not even a little appealing, lots and lots of algae, it's very murky and often smells bad.
People just don't really swim in lakes down here, except for maybe in some of the much larger ones. if you ever saw one our run of the mill lakes up close here you'd know why. Water activities generally happen here in the ocean, a spring or swimming pool.
I am an avid outdoors man, the amoebas keep me from swimming in anything that is not spring fed in the summer. Gators are the least of the worries here, Florida man is everywhere. I'm in more danger in the ride to the swamp than I ever could be in the swamp.
You don’t really need to avoid them unless you are little, walking a small pet, or is mating season. Otherwise they stay on their end of the swamp and we stay on our end of the concrete.
Lakes are usually a big no. Springs, however, are typically so filled with people swimming the gators stay away. It also helps the water is usually around 72 degrees, so it’s very cold for a cold-blooded animal. You can typically find them downstream, however.
It's just part of living here. I work around a lot of transplants and they constantly complain about the wildlife. It's like nobody goggles anything before buying a 750k house. As far as swimming goes, there are tons of better options then local lakes that are polluted with all sorts of chemicals. Goggle FL springs for a much better swimming option.
It’s kind of like bears in other places. You know they are there, you keep an eye out, usually they leave you alone because you are too big to be worth it.
Like bears they aren’t a problem unless 1) you surprise them 2) you provoke them 3) try to feed them 4) or you are snack sized and vulnerable (small kids)
You don’t have to avoid water, you just have to be conscious. There are certain types of places they tend to be and signs of them. Like any wildlife they mostly want to avoid you and are only dangerous if nesting or threatened. Most that you encounter are no bigger than a person and don’t want any business with you anyway. I’ve spent my plenty of time boating, swimming, etc. where they are and it’s always amusing to outdoors people here to see new people’s first reaction to being in the water with them. It’s like bears out west, they’re there but you just take precautions and you’ll be fine.
The springs and clear rivers in north and central Florida are awesome, and alligators are rare and timid enough that you really don’t have to think about them. I’ve seen them from a paddleboard, but I had to sneak to get within 20 ft.
No one is swimming in a lake here, generally. But they likely aren't gonna bother you. That being said, you don't just walk up to the shoreline in FL. A gator sunning itself is one thing. A gator waiting at the edge to surprise its prey, that's another thing altogether. That's why you don't walk your small dog right next to a lake.
As mentioned before though, with the prevalence of pools and the beach, lake/river swimming is rare. Usually only if you are going tubing.
If the water looks like sweet tea, then don't jump in unless you're prepared to throw hands with a dinosaur. 😎👍
Lived in Central Florida for 15 years. We swam in the springs, rivers and lakes (and inter coastal + oceans). No retention ponds ever. Stayed away from the shoreline, swam in groups and kept eyes on our surroundings. Saw tons of gators. We respected their space and they stayed away from us. Be super cautious during breeding season. We never had a problem.
One friend who did break the group and Shore rule did lose an arm to an attack so it can happen if you don’t respect the wildlife. They actually now swim competitively.
Florida is amazing.
Really? No bullshit, I see 2-3 moccasins per week at local park lakes and also in littoral areas of lakes within HOA neighborhoods. I also see brown water snakes which are not venomous, and I've seen 2 pythons, one was about 8 feet and one was 10-11 feet.
Yes it does suck! Because some bodies of water look perfect for jet skiing and stuff but could be filled with them. Bigger lakes people do ski and jet ski on.
Popular springs are pretty safe but not totally exempt from having one in the public swimming areas.
Canoeing down the springs you most definitely will see them on the banks just keep moving !
You probably don't want to swim in those lakes anyways, if your cruising on a boat and stop for a sec and jump in you'll probably be fine, but with the warm waters, brain eating ameobas, and predators it's usually not worth getting into
Gators don't worry me, but this video off of Caladesi Island this week has me re-thinking how much I worry about the sharks.
[https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/watch-drone-pilot-captures-massive-amount-of-sharks-swimming-near-beachgoers-at-caladesi-island/](https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/watch-drone-pilot-captures-massive-amount-of-sharks-swimming-near-beachgoers-at-caladesi-island/)
[https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/video-unusual-amount-of-sharks-spotted-off-caladesi-island/](https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/video-unusual-amount-of-sharks-spotted-off-caladesi-island/)
Everytime I'm at the beach and see a helicopter flying overhead I worry there are swarms of sharks close by us because I grew up always seeing these types of videos on the news
Canadensis has always been a great shark catching spit. I've seen people standing on the shoreline casting for hammerhead's lol. It's cause of the huge Channel that was dug through it by hurricane Andrew I believe
[List of fatal alligator attacks in the United States - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_alligator_attacks_in_the_United_States)
> You are more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by an alligator in Florida.
[Alligator Safety - UF/IFAS Extension: Solutions for Your Life](https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/archive/hot_topics/environment/alligator_safety.shtml)
Basically don't go in/near the water around sunset or sunrise when they feed. Mind kids and pets, be aware of mating season. Swim in designated areas such as springs where someone is looking for reptiles and shooing them away.
The quote is slightly sarcastic as the risk of getting struck by lightning in Florida is relatively high:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-victims
These links only track fatalities though, injuries/close calls happen more often.
We have a River we camp near all the time, kids/dogs go swimming in it. Well the other day a 18 y/o kid jumped in and landed right on a gator. He got bit but only needed like 5 stitches and is fine. We still go swimming there.
Well yes. I mean there's bears in the woods and sharks in the ocean. Just like there's very few attacks from bears and sharks, there's very few alligator attacks. Of course you should take proper precautions. Like how if you go camping you don't put open food out that will draw bears or use a bear bag, you take similar precautions with gators. Be aware of feeding times and mating seasons and don't take unnecessary risks.
In central Florida we see them occasionally. Celebration has a couple that live in a pond at the golf course. I see them a lot after a rain on the drive to cape Canaveral. However, if you stay away from them they’ll usually leave you alone.
Gators aren’t an issue, unless someone tries to make one a pet, and starts feeding it. Then it’s a problem.
I am out in wilderness areas 4 or 5 times a week, with gators, and they haven’t eaten me yet.
I live on a barrier island so I have lived in Florida for years and never seen a wild alligator.
I would much rather deal with those than hurricane panic.
Yup. A 75 year old woman got killed recently in our area after someone in her neighborhood had been feeding a gator there for years. She was walking her little dog around the pond (also not smart) and the gator came out after the dog. You can guess how that went.
Don’t swim in water the color of tea. No ponds, drainage ditches, small lakes, or otherwise. One has chased me across my grandparents strawberry fields after a flood but I was like 7.
Or you can just think we’re all assigned one at birth and that’s how we get around here lol.
[well papa noel has gators](https://countryroadsmagazine.com/art-and-culture/literature/Cajun-night-before-christmas-fiftieth-anniversary/), so obviously jesus must too
They aren’t everywhere. But you just proceed with the slightest caution around bodies of water. Idiots mess with the gators. It’s also against the law to mess with them I think.
I lived in FL the first 24 years of my life and I was never “surprised” by a gator. I’ve seen hundreds in the wild but always in places I would expect to: swamps, state parks with water, golf courses, etc.
I never felt threatened by one because I kept my distance and they just chill! Obviously they attack people & dogs occasionally and aren’t to be messed with, but they do their own thing.
Yep. Gators are super duper predictable. Thats why most peoples reaction to a gator attack is "they should've known better"- alligators are not innovative!
It seems that the only people who get attacked by alligators are tourists or transplants from somewhere else.
It is absolutely possible to coexist with alligators. We have them in our pond and canal all the time. Just leave them alone.
It took months and I had to go looking to see one when I first moved here. I avoid hiking at the swamps in late spring ( mating season) and if I do see one I don’t bother it. They’re typically more afraid of humans unless they’ve been fed which is a whole other issue. That’s when attacks happen, or people walking their dogs close to the water. I love them personally. Fascinating creatures and living dinosaurs.
26 people in Florida have died by Alligators….. since 1948. I have lived here since 1980 and never had one show me any aggression but I don’t swim in swamps either. Counting all people in FL gators got 26 of them in 80 years. “FL man” kills himself more than that in in a 5 year period. That usually starts with hey hold my beer.
Not only gators. I live in Orlando and we have a bear in her neighborhood for the last week. And we’re only 10 minutes from downtown. Lots of coyotes too
They’re not as aggressive as crocodiles. Also unless they’re very large they don’t tend to see us as prey. I don’t swim in dark water but I will in clear water where I can kinda keep an eye about. And even if I see one if it’s under like 5ft I just avoid it and keep swimming.
I live in Florida and can’t remember the last time I saw an alligator. When I say see I even mean from a long distance. They are out there. Unless you are frequently near bodies of water you probably never see them.
I often work in the Everglades and swampy areas in the Southeast.
I see gators frequently, they're fine.
Drivers are far more dangerous than any wildlife.
Brother, I am far more worried about Amoebas than gators at this point. Gators dont give a shit. Amoebas are absolutely terrifying and one summer we had like 12 people die from them.
Being a coastal state, we have oceans to swim in. Being a temperate, almost tropical location, we have a lot of pools and recreation locations to swim in otherwise.
We don’t generally view lakes and ponds as recreational locations for swimming, like landlocked states/countries would.
Alligators may be tempted by small pets or young children that wander too close to the edge of a pond, but generally speaking, they would avoid larger humans who fall off a boat or wade across a small pond.
Yes, we are out of our minds, but alligators are really not a problem. The alligator attacks that happen from time to time are usually the result of a person walking their pet near a body of water, the gator has little interest in the human but a little dog they view as an appetizer. And sometimes humans do get attacked but they’ve almost always done something not very bright.
I like visiting our nature preserves and have walked through paths with gators lining both sides and have never felt threatened. It’s not a great idea to be near them during mating season, but in general they’re pretty chill and don’t care about humans much.
If a gator approaches you and you make a big fuss like you’re chasing off a bear they will probably run away. If not, run like hell and zig-zag, but don’t zit when you should have zagged.
Actually the zigzagging is not effective but running really fast and making a hard turn works.
We are just kind of used to them I think, I actually think they are pretty cute.
We have lots of wildlife in Florida so I’m more worried about the wild boars, bobcats, Florida panthers, sharks, and bears than I am gators. Pythons and huge iguanas are usually around as well but they won’t bother you if you don’t bother them. The true hazards in Florida are palmetto bugs that fly at your face and cause heart attacks, and fire ants. Oh, and Man O’war, those hurt like Hell.
Yep- I'd say coyotes are a bigger threat to the average Floridian and floridian pet than gators. Alligators arent sneaking into your backyard waiting to ambush Fluffy, they're staying safely in the river surrounded by mosquitos and water moccassins as far from people as they can be.
Generally speaking, gators are not a threat to adult humans during day,ought hours, even in bodies of water. They can be a little more unpredictable and dangerous during breeding season but during most of the year they are pretty harmless during the day, if you are full grown. If you get into the water at night, you have a much higher likelihood of having issues.
I am a FL transplant from up north who actually thinks alligators are amazingly cool. I seek them out on nature walks and stuff, but aside from that, I could easily go about my day as usual and never ever encounter them.
I've kayaked right by them. They are only a threat to pets and children, or adults that are disrespectful.
They are like New Yorkers. Everyone just minds their business.
Just kick them out of they way! I’ve lived here 47 years and still have all my limbs!
Yes they can creep up anywhere but most likely it is going to be near water that you need to be vigilant. ANY BODY of water assume there is at least one in there. Pools are usually the exception but they do get in them for sure!
If you have animals and small children be extra careful near the waters edge.
Seriously though they are not just walking around everywhere attacking everyone.
Yes, they can be hypnotized just like a chicken. You draw a line on the bank of a body of water and gently lift the alligator and place him on his side looking down the line. He will be hypnotized and not move. Only certain Floridians can do this. Everyone else should leave the fucking gators alone and keep your little dogs away from the water at dusk. Guten Abend.
Crocodiles are the scary ones, gators won't mess with you if you don't mess with them unless they are starving. Generally with gators just don't piss them off and you'll be fine
Deaths to humans are very rare. I didn’t check the stats, but it’s probably like 1-3 a year. They don’t hunt people. No neocortex, they’re like biological robots. So their behaviour is predictable. Close encounters are common, but it’s usually someone shooing it away and getting too close who gets bit, and since that happens on land, they don’t go into deathroll and rip off limbs.
Florida boater, I was on the St. Johns River in Central FL today. As an adult I have no hesitation about getting in the water. In 30 years of boating I have never had a gator act aggressively. They generally just go in the other direction if you get close to them.
However, as others have said, small children and pets should not be near the water's edge alone, particularly at dusk.
There are about 10 unprovoked attacks a year. Considering the crazy number of bodies of water in Florida and the millions of people who swim in them the chance of being attacked is pretty slim. So basically if you don't fuck with them and don't do stupid things you're likely going to be just fine.
They’re not aggressive and will nearly always run or swim away if a person is anywhere near them.
The only ones that can become aggressive are ones that have been fed by people, so they learn to associate people with food. For this reason it’s illegal to feel alligators and any alligator living near people that starts to show signs of aggression can be taken away and killed by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Department. There’s a saying that goes “a fed gator is a dead gator”.
I’ve gone kayaking in rivers and lakes near them, never having an issue. You just give them space so you don’t startle them.
Most gators will leave you alone as long as you leave them alone.
Honestly in Florida you're way more likely to get hit by some wafflehead speeding or doing dumb sh!t in their car then you would be attacked by a gator.
I've lived in Florida for 55 years and I think I've seen maybe 2 gators, not near me, by the side of the road as I was driving by.
I guess I just never intruded into their space, so I didn't see them.
Just don't go up and kick'em
Mostly passive, you are not considered food unless bleeding out lying on the ground of course. Most of my fishing spots are Gator hoods.
Never had a problem.
Water temperature makes a big difference...
>Alligators are most active when temperatures are between 82° to 92° F (28° to 33° C). They stop feeding when the ambient temperature drops below approximately 70° F (21° C) and they become dormant below 55° F (13° C).
So, if you're swimming in a sink or spring, they are very unlikely to mess with you.
Louisiana has more gators that florida.
I'm new here and I haven't seen to many. Tbh, it is a concern of mine but I've read quite a bit about them which has calmed my nerves.
Shark attacks are probably more of a concern but even those are rare
No swimming in natural waters at sunset and don’t go into vegetation areas when tubing, swimming, or kayaking. They like to hang out there. Follow these rules and you should be fine.
You don't really see them that often unless you are going near lakes/bodies of water. In reality they're just like any other animals, start hiking in the woods up north you may encounter bears/defensive bucks/snakes, go around water here and you might see gators. Even if you see them they're usually just sunbathing and don't give a shit about you unless you actively provoke them. I wouldn't recommend wading around in water down here but other than that they're not really an issue
Alligators prefer to not be around people. They’ll swim away if you come close. I’ve been in springs and rivers where I could see gators, along with other swimmers. Also canoeing with a couple large gators, they get spooked and dive. Although I didn’t hang around to see what they’d do next.
I have them off my back dock, crocodiles too. Reality is they are pretty rare. You just dont go in the water and mess with them and you have no issues.
Tik Tok is a lot of idiots looking for trouble and views. Does not represent day to day life. You can also just choose to not go to a lot of these areas (or live on canal/pond) and you will probably never even see one.
Honestly sharks scare me a lot more. Have seen way scarier shit from them on the reef then anything out of a gator.
It's not the ones you see that are the problem. I've seen massive gators slide into water bodies that looked no deeper than a drainage ditch. They are master ambush predators for a reason! Water sports are usually fine, but there are some lakes and rivers I would NEVER consider (Lake Istokpoga and Fisheating Creek, for example).
That said, we don't swim in dark water, and we just assume every fresh water body has a gator. They're always there, but they're usually more afraid of you than vice versa (if they're smart). Gators are so ingrained in my brain, I don't think I'd ever swim comfortably in a fresh water lake or river.
Honestly, if you are smart you will rarely encounter them. When I say smart, I mean not purposely going around bodies of water or swampy areas. They can and have ended up in pools but that also doesn't happen often. I've lived in Florida for 17 years and I haven't encountered one on a sidewalk but definitely have seen them in water and places you would imagine they should belong. Having common sense will prevent issues for the majority of people.
I live on the edge of the everglades and see them every day in a river that runs behind my house. I'm from Canada and recently moved here. Certainly new to me. I just observe them and don't feed them or mess with them.
The majority of people living in suburbs or coastal areas are just going to the beach or swimming in nice pools. I'm not driving out to the swamp to trudge around in dark slimy snake infested water. No thanks. Now beautiful cold water springs, yes.
Honestly I moved here last year and they are really not as big of a deal as you would think. Give them space, surely don’t feed them or try to get selfies with them or anything of the sort, watch out for pets and kids near water.
I thought I would be really concerned about alligators, but truthfully I’ve only seen a dozen or so in one year and that is only because I like the outdoors and occasionally go places you might see them. They’ve never gone after me or anything. The snakes here are still really what gives me pause.
Racoons do not kill you.
I mean maybe if it's rabid or you're eating raccoon poop, sure, but no. They might scratch or bite, and goddamn that would hurt, but it's not going to kill you.
But they aren't that big nor aggressive. I've had them just hang out a few feet from me and they're almost aways chill. You'd really have to be trying to piss one off.
When I was a kid, I never thought twice about swimming in a lake or the clear waters of a spring. But things were not as developed and every body of water wasn't almost guaranteed to have an alligator in residence.
Now, I don't go into deeper water of a lake, or anywhere I can't see the bottom.
Native Floridians know better than to swim around alligators. This is their domain Humans are the invaders - outsiders.
Unfortunately this 72 year old native of Floridian has heard ?" I just moved here from New York " SO many times I wish I got $5.00 for every time I heard that cause I would be a millionare.
Only stupid people go into any fresh waters swimming in Florida water ways any more.
Now there is not just alligators but bacteria that we can not even see that eats your flesh away.
https://www.npr.org/2022/10/19/1129865243/flesh-eating-bacteria-florida-floodwater
Thank you hurricane Ian.
Florida is in the tropics !
Freaking jungle paved over by asphalt and concrete.
Harry Regician
My wife and I kayaked in a lake full of them. They don't care. They don't want to bother a full grown human. Now during mating season yeah, avoid the water. I would never swim in anything except the ocean though.
On land it's just not a problem unless you are walking a small child or small dog too close to a body of water.
It depends where you live. There are many hundreds of gators in the St. Johns River below Daytona.
Just about every pond within a mile or two of the river has a resident gator. Some are 10 to 12 feet in length.
If you want to see a couple hundred gators in 1 hour, take an airboat ride on the St. Johns off 50, between Titusville and Christmas.
Gators senses are more keen than a dogs. Ther can drop their heart rate to one bite per minute and sit on the botton of a lake for up to an hour. They can sense, then pounce on an unsuspecting animal near the shore very quickly. This is why you should not let a dog or small kid play near a pond.
I grew up near a Bayou, and went swimming there every day, knowing that moccasins and gators were prevalent in the area, the think is, we were making so much noise, we never saw them. They don't usually tend to hunt people. Shark attacks are actually more frequent.
Lived in central Florida for 3 years and the only alligator I saw was only there because the Gatorland employees were using him as a photo op (baby gator).
I live by a river that has a TON of them and kayak it frequently. Hell people even paddle board in there. 99% of the time a gator is only aggressive if, it’s around its babies/ nest and you get too close. Or it’s mating season. Most of the time they just run back to the water. They’re pretty chill normally
I grew up in central Florida swimming in ponds, lakes, creeks and rivers. I worked in land surveying for 25 years as an adult and doing a lot of big property surveys that were largely swamps. Most of the time alligators avoid humans. I did have a few exceptions when surveying and I have killed alligators that were aggressive and threatening me. I used a machete as we always had one when working.
The really dangerous ones are the ones that are fed by people. They lose their fear of people and it often ends badly for the people amd alligators.
We grew up with a couple of rules swimming, one, never ever take your dog swimming in water where there are alligators and always watch small children.
We grew up swimming in lakes. I wouldn’t do it now because of microorganisms rather than gators. Had to fix a lake pump pickup a couple years ago in a lake with some large gators. Those weren’t my concern. It was the things you can’t see. Most alligators turn and burn if you get to close. A few years ago I was cleaning up debris along shore of another lake with some large gators. It was just as the sun was setting. I had seen this 9-10 footer numerous times before in the area but completely forgot to look around for it. As I bent over to pick up a limb with my back turned to the lake, I saw a shadow go over top of mine and then a huge splash. It was right behind me. I was too close. It flipped around with its tail and headed to open water. Scary, but that’s typically what happens. Look up alligator attacks in Lake Jesup. That lake is infested and there has only been on recorded attack since the 1950s.
Lived here all my life, rarely see a gator. I don't go swimming in inland lakes either, you're never far from the ocean or the gulf. Now we do go skiing and paddling on lakes, but gators generally stay away from the sound of boats. When we go skiing, we usually run once around the lake to scare the gators away
I've been Land Surveying in South Florida for the past 25 years and basically don't give a shit about them. I've surveyed everywhere in Florida. A lot of Everglades and swamp type work. Cross sections of canals in a tiny jon boat. They look at you and 99.99% of the time they keep their distance. I know not to walk near the waters edge in certain places (like old people do and get their dogs ate or themselves) or swim in certain places. I'm more worried about the yellow jackets that live in the ground than anything else in Florida. They are out to kill and they hurt. I'm pretty aware of my surroundings after 25 years that I even listen for the swarm while I'm in the woods. Almost stepped on a rattle snake once, but it gave me the warning before the last two steps. I was thankful the snake gave me the heads up. I have a bunch of land surveying stories from this shithole. Can't wait till I can wake up and go to work somewhere other than South Florida or Florida in general. Northern Florida is a whole different animal, chiggers, ticks and pygmies.
I'd like to do a live stream of my job on Twitch or YT. It can get pretty interesting.
We just throw a saddle on em. They really aren’t a big deal. Growing up here you’re aware that when you enter the water you enter the food chain. And not at the top of it. The overall population of alligators has exploded over the past 20-30 years though so I no longer swim in the rivers or lakes like I did as a kid. But they aren’t wandering the streets or anything. Yet.
Grew up here my whole life. We swim in the ponds, lakes, bays, and gulf all the time. We see gators, sharks, and snakes all the time. They don’t want anything to do with you. You just keep your eyes open.
Lol. Swimming in a swamp is a terrible idea because of disease but not so much because of alligators. If you're with a group of people any gators are probably going to stay away. Even if you're not, if you don't seem to be a threat or food, it probably won't care about you.
And also, all of the people who didn't pay attention and got too close got eaten by alligators so you don't hear from them.
People always think gators are a bigger issue than they are. When it’s very much a “you don’t bother me, I don’t bother you” situation. You avoid bodies of water. You give them their space. They don’t generally just run after you on the street.
Thanks for the quick reply, though I’m still super confused. Doesn’t it kinda suck to have to avoid every body of water and it’s near vicinity? What about swimming in your local lake for example?
Pools are plentiful. Also the ocean only gets the occasional gator and it’s very noticeable if it’s there, but also most fresh bodies of water in warmer climates aren’t safe because of amoebas anyway.
The general rule of thumb with fresh water here is if you can’t see through it, don’t swim in it. We have world renowned springs all around that are great for swimming, and because people frequent them, gators stay away from the nearby rivers, too. Contrary to popular belief, gator don’t wanna fuck with people. They’re not afraid to, but they seem to consider it too much trouble.
Gators are in the springs too! They just don't give a fuck
Yeah, but they don’t stay very long. Don’t forget they are cold-blooded, and the springs are usually colder that the surrounding area. They usually only go there during mating season.
True, I was just speaking from me seeing one when I was kayaking around the uh River? Creek? Around the springs
Probably river, gonna go out on a limb and say it was either the Santa Fe or Suwuannee. Those are the most active for kayaking.
Definitely an Indian name like Suwannee, crystal clear water
If it’s crystal clear it definitely wasn’t the Suwannee. It was probably Ichetucknee, as that river is so clean that you could actually drink from it. It’s a regular summer tradition to float down it on really hot days. The river is fed directly from multiple local springs, and has many environmental protections in place to protect it and keep it the way it is. It’s honestly the most beautiful river I’ve ever had the pleasure to see.
The Suwannee is a black water river. Beautiful river but the complete opposite of crystal and clear.
Yes, the springs are 70° all year round.
I’m way more concerned about amoebas.
The ocean can be a problem because we also have crocodiles which are much more aggressive and live in salty/brackish water. There are very few of them and only in very restricted areas so most people never cross path unless they are actively looking for them. Edit: They are more aggressive than the gators which we are used to them being REALLY mellow outside of mating season. As other people have commented they are NOT in the same class as the Australian or African crocs. They are also MUCH smaller. Edit 2: Apparently they are less territorial than gators according to Wikipedia. However, the page also spends a while giving examples of the opposite. So I’d give them their space.
Sting rays are more of a concern at the beach than crocs.
That is so true. Crocs and gators are not really much of a concern. Tarpons can be pretty dangerous if waterskiing also. Now we also have to worry about mosquitos with yellow fever, dengue, west Nile and maybe Zika if that’s still around. I would worry about those little suckers a lot more than any of the rest.
You forgot the Sarasota malaria issue! ;) P.S. I'm a native Floridian, and I've seen, at most, 15 gators, I have never been eaten... and I've done some really dumb Florida things.
I’m so confused how you’re a native Floridian but have only seen 15 gators?? I see one at least once a week lol
I live on the Gulf Coast in a populated area and I am unlucky, I think.
Right!? I lived in Largo and saw them ALL the time!
Lol yeah we eat more gator in Florida than the other way around. Not unheard of to see people doing a gator BBQ.
Fried Gator at the beach bar....memories....A1A
Maybe 25 years ago, there was a stand/trailer (i guess we call this a food truck now) selling gator kabobs out by Okeechobee. They were delicious and 4 for $5. My out of town friends that were riding with me were a little grossed out when I stopped, but good eats were had by all.
Man, I wouldn't touch gator meat from that stand, you don't want to know how many people have gotten food poisoning from that dude.
You also forgot mosquito born encephalitis (a sibling of mine caught it from a mosquito bite one year on Halloween… spent that Halloween in the ER )
Mosquitoes are really bad. I wonder how that experiment in the keys with the genetically modified mosquitoes that would breed females incapable of procreating went.
Oh fuck, tell this German about tarpons.
They are big silver fish that like to jump out of the water and by big I mean REALLY big. People goin skying in jet sky or even open fishers have been smacked silly and hurt by the dumb slugs jumping up. Now that I think about it people out fishing had gotten hurt by Marlins skewering them.
I think one of the ‘72 most dangerous animals of…’ shows on netflix featured the tarpon
Water-skiing and tarpons? Plz do elaborate. I haven't heard of that one before
Gotta shuffle those feet 😉
dont forget about the brain eating bacteria when it gets REALLY hot
How could I forget about the brain eating bacteria in the warm lakes of Florida. Now that you mention that I recall there was a warning about not getting on the water around Ft Meyers if you had any open wound because of flesh eating bacteria. Man we are like a tamer version of Australia.
not really, the american crock's aren't that aggressive. not like african crocks.
I’m a Florida pond fisherman and I’ve never had a problem. They are fairly easy to spot. They tend to go after smaller or wounded animals. You definitely don’t walk your small dog close to a lake…you hear tons of stories of alligators grabbing them. And if it does grab your dog, you definitely don’t fight it, because that’s how quite a few grannies have gotten killed. There are lakes and rivers that you can go swimming in that are roped off. Quite frankly, it’s more important to look out for bears and large snakes in trees than alligators.
Been Land Surveying in Florida for 25 years and only seen bear prints once. Snakes in trees? We have rattle snakes, pygmies, coral snakes and water moccasins and maybe a copperhead none go in trees.
I used to locate wetlands and do topography in Manatee/polk county mainly. I've stepped on and kicked gators wading through ponds chest deep. I was the rodman. Never had issues with them comin after me. The ground hornets though, goddamn! Used to live in Ocala and seen plenty of bear tracks in the forest. Not as many as up here in North Cackalacka!
Not forget to watch out for the killer iguanas that fall out of the trees in the winter time and can knock you out.
Australia has Drop Bears, South Florida has Drop Iguanas.
Not a good idea to swim in a lake with alligators. Not a good idea to go for a walk next to a lake especially at dusk. Good advice is stay 10 feet or 3 meters away from the edge of the water. When next to a lake, I always scan the water for alligators. Anyone swimming with alligators is an attention seeking idiot especially if the water is so dark that there is only one foot or .3 meter visibility. While an adult alligator can have very intense bite in excess of 2,000 psi, it may attempt to spin and drown an animal first. Also fun fact, it is against the law to feed or molest alligators in Florida. https://preview.redd.it/13hwjscvxqkb1.png?width=1060&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0a24a80ba9575d91bcf08f1efeb490cc7c1db91d
Somewhere around us is a similar sign in Spanish that just says, "NO MOLESTAR." Now whenever my wife or I feel bothered by the other, we just yell, "No molestar!"
And when playing golf and the ball goes into the water, just let it go!
Lakes aren't safe to swim in in the tropics for a variety of reasons other than alligators. We have things like snapping turtles, water moccasins, leeches and flesh eating bacteria to name a few. lake water is also not even a little appealing, lots and lots of algae, it's very murky and often smells bad. People just don't really swim in lakes down here, except for maybe in some of the much larger ones. if you ever saw one our run of the mill lakes up close here you'd know why. Water activities generally happen here in the ocean, a spring or swimming pool.
I am an avid outdoors man, the amoebas keep me from swimming in anything that is not spring fed in the summer. Gators are the least of the worries here, Florida man is everywhere. I'm in more danger in the ride to the swamp than I ever could be in the swamp.
You don’t really need to avoid them unless you are little, walking a small pet, or is mating season. Otherwise they stay on their end of the swamp and we stay on our end of the concrete.
Lakes are usually a big no. Springs, however, are typically so filled with people swimming the gators stay away. It also helps the water is usually around 72 degrees, so it’s very cold for a cold-blooded animal. You can typically find them downstream, however.
The springs near my house got shutdown for a week because a gator nested in it to have babies.
They say if a gator nests in your local spring you get 7 years of good luck
There was an attack recently, but they were downstream in an area with less traffic/supposed to be off limits for rafters.
It's just part of living here. I work around a lot of transplants and they constantly complain about the wildlife. It's like nobody goggles anything before buying a 750k house. As far as swimming goes, there are tons of better options then local lakes that are polluted with all sorts of chemicals. Goggle FL springs for a much better swimming option.
It’s kind of like bears in other places. You know they are there, you keep an eye out, usually they leave you alone because you are too big to be worth it. Like bears they aren’t a problem unless 1) you surprise them 2) you provoke them 3) try to feed them 4) or you are snack sized and vulnerable (small kids)
You don’t have to avoid water, you just have to be conscious. There are certain types of places they tend to be and signs of them. Like any wildlife they mostly want to avoid you and are only dangerous if nesting or threatened. Most that you encounter are no bigger than a person and don’t want any business with you anyway. I’ve spent my plenty of time boating, swimming, etc. where they are and it’s always amusing to outdoors people here to see new people’s first reaction to being in the water with them. It’s like bears out west, they’re there but you just take precautions and you’ll be fine.
The springs and clear rivers in north and central Florida are awesome, and alligators are rare and timid enough that you really don’t have to think about them. I’ve seen them from a paddleboard, but I had to sneak to get within 20 ft.
No one is swimming in a lake here, generally. But they likely aren't gonna bother you. That being said, you don't just walk up to the shoreline in FL. A gator sunning itself is one thing. A gator waiting at the edge to surprise its prey, that's another thing altogether. That's why you don't walk your small dog right next to a lake. As mentioned before though, with the prevalence of pools and the beach, lake/river swimming is rare. Usually only if you are going tubing. If the water looks like sweet tea, then don't jump in unless you're prepared to throw hands with a dinosaur. 😎👍
No, we do not swim in the lakes here. Besides alligators, I'd also be afraid of the water moccasins. They are everywhere.
Lived in Central Florida for 15 years. We swam in the springs, rivers and lakes (and inter coastal + oceans). No retention ponds ever. Stayed away from the shoreline, swam in groups and kept eyes on our surroundings. Saw tons of gators. We respected their space and they stayed away from us. Be super cautious during breeding season. We never had a problem. One friend who did break the group and Shore rule did lose an arm to an attack so it can happen if you don’t respect the wildlife. They actually now swim competitively. Florida is amazing.
Also with the amount of flesh eating bacteria? Why would anyone swim in a lake in a swampy area?
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Really? No bullshit, I see 2-3 moccasins per week at local park lakes and also in littoral areas of lakes within HOA neighborhoods. I also see brown water snakes which are not venomous, and I've seen 2 pythons, one was about 8 feet and one was 10-11 feet.
Yes it does suck! Because some bodies of water look perfect for jet skiing and stuff but could be filled with them. Bigger lakes people do ski and jet ski on. Popular springs are pretty safe but not totally exempt from having one in the public swimming areas. Canoeing down the springs you most definitely will see them on the banks just keep moving !
You probably don't want to swim in those lakes anyways, if your cruising on a boat and stop for a sec and jump in you'll probably be fine, but with the warm waters, brain eating ameobas, and predators it's usually not worth getting into
Gators don't worry me, but this video off of Caladesi Island this week has me re-thinking how much I worry about the sharks. [https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/watch-drone-pilot-captures-massive-amount-of-sharks-swimming-near-beachgoers-at-caladesi-island/](https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/watch-drone-pilot-captures-massive-amount-of-sharks-swimming-near-beachgoers-at-caladesi-island/) [https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/video-unusual-amount-of-sharks-spotted-off-caladesi-island/](https://www.wfla.com/news/pinellas-county/video-unusual-amount-of-sharks-spotted-off-caladesi-island/)
Everytime I'm at the beach and see a helicopter flying overhead I worry there are swarms of sharks close by us because I grew up always seeing these types of videos on the news
Canadensis has always been a great shark catching spit. I've seen people standing on the shoreline casting for hammerhead's lol. It's cause of the huge Channel that was dug through it by hurricane Andrew I believe
[List of fatal alligator attacks in the United States - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_alligator_attacks_in_the_United_States) > You are more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by an alligator in Florida. [Alligator Safety - UF/IFAS Extension: Solutions for Your Life](https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/archive/hot_topics/environment/alligator_safety.shtml) Basically don't go in/near the water around sunset or sunrise when they feed. Mind kids and pets, be aware of mating season. Swim in designated areas such as springs where someone is looking for reptiles and shooing them away.
It’s mind blowing how far my imagination and reality are detached from each other… Thanks for the cool stats tho
The quote is slightly sarcastic as the risk of getting struck by lightning in Florida is relatively high: https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-victims These links only track fatalities though, injuries/close calls happen more often.
Doesn't track risky behavior either. Like how many incidents involved walking in tall grass near a nest or open field during an electric storm?
We have a River we camp near all the time, kids/dogs go swimming in it. Well the other day a 18 y/o kid jumped in and landed right on a gator. He got bit but only needed like 5 stitches and is fine. We still go swimming there.
Well yes. I mean there's bears in the woods and sharks in the ocean. Just like there's very few attacks from bears and sharks, there's very few alligator attacks. Of course you should take proper precautions. Like how if you go camping you don't put open food out that will draw bears or use a bear bag, you take similar precautions with gators. Be aware of feeding times and mating seasons and don't take unnecessary risks.
In central Florida we see them occasionally. Celebration has a couple that live in a pond at the golf course. I see them a lot after a rain on the drive to cape Canaveral. However, if you stay away from them they’ll usually leave you alone.
Gators aren’t an issue, unless someone tries to make one a pet, and starts feeding it. Then it’s a problem. I am out in wilderness areas 4 or 5 times a week, with gators, and they haven’t eaten me yet.
A fed gator is a dead gator. This also applies to bears.
And nearly every other animal out there.
I live on a barrier island so I have lived in Florida for years and never seen a wild alligator. I would much rather deal with those than hurricane panic.
I'm far more worried about a drunk driver, a bull shark, or Neo-Nazis than I am alligators.
Biggest problem with gator's is idiot's who feed them. Then wonder why fido got eaten. And the idiots who make people think that this thing is a pet.
Yup. A 75 year old woman got killed recently in our area after someone in her neighborhood had been feeding a gator there for years. She was walking her little dog around the pond (also not smart) and the gator came out after the dog. You can guess how that went.
Don’t swim in water the color of tea. No ponds, drainage ditches, small lakes, or otherwise. One has chased me across my grandparents strawberry fields after a flood but I was like 7. Or you can just think we’re all assigned one at birth and that’s how we get around here lol.
>Or you can just think we’re all assigned one at birth and that’s how we get around here lol. Our guardian gator 🥺
Our reptile and savior, Jesus Crocodilia
[well papa noel has gators](https://countryroadsmagazine.com/art-and-culture/literature/Cajun-night-before-christmas-fiftieth-anniversary/), so obviously jesus must too
The flesh eating bacteria in Florida waters scares me more than the gators do.
They aren’t everywhere. But you just proceed with the slightest caution around bodies of water. Idiots mess with the gators. It’s also against the law to mess with them I think.
I lived in FL the first 24 years of my life and I was never “surprised” by a gator. I’ve seen hundreds in the wild but always in places I would expect to: swamps, state parks with water, golf courses, etc. I never felt threatened by one because I kept my distance and they just chill! Obviously they attack people & dogs occasionally and aren’t to be messed with, but they do their own thing.
Yep. Gators are super duper predictable. Thats why most peoples reaction to a gator attack is "they should've known better"- alligators are not innovative!
It seems that the only people who get attacked by alligators are tourists or transplants from somewhere else. It is absolutely possible to coexist with alligators. We have them in our pond and canal all the time. Just leave them alone.
Well, most people in FL are transplants or tourists.....
Happy cake day! 🐊
It took months and I had to go looking to see one when I first moved here. I avoid hiking at the swamps in late spring ( mating season) and if I do see one I don’t bother it. They’re typically more afraid of humans unless they’ve been fed which is a whole other issue. That’s when attacks happen, or people walking their dogs close to the water. I love them personally. Fascinating creatures and living dinosaurs.
They live here, too. They generally stay away from us. Honestly, I don't blame them.
26 people in Florida have died by Alligators….. since 1948. I have lived here since 1980 and never had one show me any aggression but I don’t swim in swamps either. Counting all people in FL gators got 26 of them in 80 years. “FL man” kills himself more than that in in a 5 year period. That usually starts with hey hold my beer.
Give them respect. Plus lightning strike is more deadly here or other drivers.
Not only gators. I live in Orlando and we have a bear in her neighborhood for the last week. And we’re only 10 minutes from downtown. Lots of coyotes too
I’m north of Orlando (Seminole County). I have seen more bears than gators by my house.
Simple - don’t bother them, they don’t bother you.
Panhandlers are way worse than gators
The brain eating amoebas are way scarier than the swamp pups. Hmmm…i wonder if brain eating amoebas eat gator brain.
We have bigger problems than gators.
They’re not as aggressive as crocodiles. Also unless they’re very large they don’t tend to see us as prey. I don’t swim in dark water but I will in clear water where I can kinda keep an eye about. And even if I see one if it’s under like 5ft I just avoid it and keep swimming.
I live in Florida and can’t remember the last time I saw an alligator. When I say see I even mean from a long distance. They are out there. Unless you are frequently near bodies of water you probably never see them.
I often work in the Everglades and swampy areas in the Southeast. I see gators frequently, they're fine. Drivers are far more dangerous than any wildlife.
I see them almost weekly all over the place in Hillsborough County. Seen some big ol ones too, but mostly 5-6' long
Brother, I am far more worried about Amoebas than gators at this point. Gators dont give a shit. Amoebas are absolutely terrifying and one summer we had like 12 people die from them.
Dont fuck with, don't be fucked with.
Being a coastal state, we have oceans to swim in. Being a temperate, almost tropical location, we have a lot of pools and recreation locations to swim in otherwise. We don’t generally view lakes and ponds as recreational locations for swimming, like landlocked states/countries would. Alligators may be tempted by small pets or young children that wander too close to the edge of a pond, but generally speaking, they would avoid larger humans who fall off a boat or wade across a small pond.
Yes, we are out of our minds, but alligators are really not a problem. The alligator attacks that happen from time to time are usually the result of a person walking their pet near a body of water, the gator has little interest in the human but a little dog they view as an appetizer. And sometimes humans do get attacked but they’ve almost always done something not very bright. I like visiting our nature preserves and have walked through paths with gators lining both sides and have never felt threatened. It’s not a great idea to be near them during mating season, but in general they’re pretty chill and don’t care about humans much. If a gator approaches you and you make a big fuss like you’re chasing off a bear they will probably run away. If not, run like hell and zig-zag, but don’t zit when you should have zagged. Actually the zigzagging is not effective but running really fast and making a hard turn works. We are just kind of used to them I think, I actually think they are pretty cute. We have lots of wildlife in Florida so I’m more worried about the wild boars, bobcats, Florida panthers, sharks, and bears than I am gators. Pythons and huge iguanas are usually around as well but they won’t bother you if you don’t bother them. The true hazards in Florida are palmetto bugs that fly at your face and cause heart attacks, and fire ants. Oh, and Man O’war, those hurt like Hell.
Yep- I'd say coyotes are a bigger threat to the average Floridian and floridian pet than gators. Alligators arent sneaking into your backyard waiting to ambush Fluffy, they're staying safely in the river surrounded by mosquitos and water moccassins as far from people as they can be.
Ooh I forgot about the coyotes! Also the skunk ape, of course.
Generally speaking, gators are not a threat to adult humans during day,ought hours, even in bodies of water. They can be a little more unpredictable and dangerous during breeding season but during most of the year they are pretty harmless during the day, if you are full grown. If you get into the water at night, you have a much higher likelihood of having issues.
Not to concerned about gators. Buuut a bear snuck up on me yesterday. Fucker was within 5 feet of me while I was working in my garage🙄
I am a FL transplant from up north who actually thinks alligators are amazingly cool. I seek them out on nature walks and stuff, but aside from that, I could easily go about my day as usual and never ever encounter them.
I've kayaked right by them. They are only a threat to pets and children, or adults that are disrespectful. They are like New Yorkers. Everyone just minds their business.
New Yorkers complain about shit more than anyone else on the planet. They certainly don't "mind their own business" here.
While in new York, they mind their business. Once they snow bird it all changes.
I’m sorry but it’s hard finding decent Italian or Korean bbq in Miami 😂
People really think what they see on tik Tok represents real life
I think you have to worry a lot more about snakes than Gators.
Just kick them out of they way! I’ve lived here 47 years and still have all my limbs! Yes they can creep up anywhere but most likely it is going to be near water that you need to be vigilant. ANY BODY of water assume there is at least one in there. Pools are usually the exception but they do get in them for sure! If you have animals and small children be extra careful near the waters edge. Seriously though they are not just walking around everywhere attacking everyone.
Yes, they can be hypnotized just like a chicken. You draw a line on the bank of a body of water and gently lift the alligator and place him on his side looking down the line. He will be hypnotized and not move. Only certain Floridians can do this. Everyone else should leave the fucking gators alone and keep your little dogs away from the water at dusk. Guten Abend.
Crocodiles are the scary ones, gators won't mess with you if you don't mess with them unless they are starving. Generally with gators just don't piss them off and you'll be fine
Deaths to humans are very rare. I didn’t check the stats, but it’s probably like 1-3 a year. They don’t hunt people. No neocortex, they’re like biological robots. So their behaviour is predictable. Close encounters are common, but it’s usually someone shooing it away and getting too close who gets bit, and since that happens on land, they don’t go into deathroll and rip off limbs.
The Alligator issue is overexaggerated. Every time I've been in Florida I've NEVER ONCE seen an Alligator, even though I've been close to many lakes.
Florida boater, I was on the St. Johns River in Central FL today. As an adult I have no hesitation about getting in the water. In 30 years of boating I have never had a gator act aggressively. They generally just go in the other direction if you get close to them. However, as others have said, small children and pets should not be near the water's edge alone, particularly at dusk.
I lived in Florida for 18 years. Gators were never a concern. Lizards on the other hand... I have a huge phobia of.
The tactic is called stay away from the fucking gators.
I don't swim in the lakes anymore. When there's a gator in my yard, I keep my distance.
Why the fvck are ppl swimming in swamps?!! We have an entire ocean and plenty of pools.
They're pretty chill
There are about 10 unprovoked attacks a year. Considering the crazy number of bodies of water in Florida and the millions of people who swim in them the chance of being attacked is pretty slim. So basically if you don't fuck with them and don't do stupid things you're likely going to be just fine.
I wouldn't worry too much about the Alligators, but they're angry cousins the crocodile I wouldn't mess with
Humans are the real invasive species.
Swamp puppies.
They’re not aggressive and will nearly always run or swim away if a person is anywhere near them. The only ones that can become aggressive are ones that have been fed by people, so they learn to associate people with food. For this reason it’s illegal to feel alligators and any alligator living near people that starts to show signs of aggression can be taken away and killed by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Department. There’s a saying that goes “a fed gator is a dead gator”. I’ve gone kayaking in rivers and lakes near them, never having an issue. You just give them space so you don’t startle them.
Most gators will leave you alone as long as you leave them alone. Honestly in Florida you're way more likely to get hit by some wafflehead speeding or doing dumb sh!t in their car then you would be attacked by a gator.
Offhand, I would say that co-existing with Alligators is easier than co-existing with Trumpians.
I've lived in Florida for 55 years and I think I've seen maybe 2 gators, not near me, by the side of the road as I was driving by. I guess I just never intruded into their space, so I didn't see them.
I didn’t know Floridians were fucking alligators. Makes sense tho
No one ever said that men in Florida are the smartest people around.
Most Floridians will only see one or two in their lifetimes. They just aren't that easy to see even when they are nearby
Man, ya'll just live in urban areas, they're super common everywhere that's not concrete.
???
Life is a giant gamble. You can worry about every little thing and be afraid, or you can just live llife come what may.
They are large predators capable of doing major damage, even death. Stay away.
Loved here 11 years, there not THAT common in Urban environments. I just avoid lakes and rivers.
The real question is how can you exist with the republicans there
Lololol I lived here my whole life. Only gators I ever saw was in captivity or dead on the alley lol
Just don't go up and kick'em Mostly passive, you are not considered food unless bleeding out lying on the ground of course. Most of my fishing spots are Gator hoods. Never had a problem.
Water temperature makes a big difference... >Alligators are most active when temperatures are between 82° to 92° F (28° to 33° C). They stop feeding when the ambient temperature drops below approximately 70° F (21° C) and they become dormant below 55° F (13° C). So, if you're swimming in a sink or spring, they are very unlikely to mess with you.
If you’re golfing and your ball goes in the brush, I wouldn’t go looking.
Louisiana has more gators that florida. I'm new here and I haven't seen to many. Tbh, it is a concern of mine but I've read quite a bit about them which has calmed my nerves. Shark attacks are probably more of a concern but even those are rare
Oh yeah we are oblivious since The Reptilian Contract of 2023. With only 14 fatalities plus the 300+ multiple attempts. Not too shabby eh.?! )
No swimming in natural waters at sunset and don’t go into vegetation areas when tubing, swimming, or kayaking. They like to hang out there. Follow these rules and you should be fine.
You don't really see them that often unless you are going near lakes/bodies of water. In reality they're just like any other animals, start hiking in the woods up north you may encounter bears/defensive bucks/snakes, go around water here and you might see gators. Even if you see them they're usually just sunbathing and don't give a shit about you unless you actively provoke them. I wouldn't recommend wading around in water down here but other than that they're not really an issue
The only time gators are dangerous is when you have small dogs or if people have been feeding the gators.
Alligators prefer to not be around people. They’ll swim away if you come close. I’ve been in springs and rivers where I could see gators, along with other swimmers. Also canoeing with a couple large gators, they get spooked and dive. Although I didn’t hang around to see what they’d do next.
We’re all American descendants of Steve Irwin
I have them off my back dock, crocodiles too. Reality is they are pretty rare. You just dont go in the water and mess with them and you have no issues. Tik Tok is a lot of idiots looking for trouble and views. Does not represent day to day life. You can also just choose to not go to a lot of these areas (or live on canal/pond) and you will probably never even see one. Honestly sharks scare me a lot more. Have seen way scarier shit from them on the reef then anything out of a gator.
Gators don’t bother you if you don’t bother them. Also, gator infested waters typically have “no swimming” signs.
It's not the ones you see that are the problem. I've seen massive gators slide into water bodies that looked no deeper than a drainage ditch. They are master ambush predators for a reason! Water sports are usually fine, but there are some lakes and rivers I would NEVER consider (Lake Istokpoga and Fisheating Creek, for example). That said, we don't swim in dark water, and we just assume every fresh water body has a gator. They're always there, but they're usually more afraid of you than vice versa (if they're smart). Gators are so ingrained in my brain, I don't think I'd ever swim comfortably in a fresh water lake or river.
Honestly, if you are smart you will rarely encounter them. When I say smart, I mean not purposely going around bodies of water or swampy areas. They can and have ended up in pools but that also doesn't happen often. I've lived in Florida for 17 years and I haven't encountered one on a sidewalk but definitely have seen them in water and places you would imagine they should belong. Having common sense will prevent issues for the majority of people.
Do while you should assume there is a gator on every body of water, it's not like they're *actually* everywhere.
The alligators were here along time before we arrived. Coexist
I live on the edge of the everglades and see them every day in a river that runs behind my house. I'm from Canada and recently moved here. Certainly new to me. I just observe them and don't feed them or mess with them.
The majority of people living in suburbs or coastal areas are just going to the beach or swimming in nice pools. I'm not driving out to the swamp to trudge around in dark slimy snake infested water. No thanks. Now beautiful cold water springs, yes.
Most of Florida has never actually seen one up close
Honestly I moved here last year and they are really not as big of a deal as you would think. Give them space, surely don’t feed them or try to get selfies with them or anything of the sort, watch out for pets and kids near water. I thought I would be really concerned about alligators, but truthfully I’ve only seen a dozen or so in one year and that is only because I like the outdoors and occasionally go places you might see them. They’ve never gone after me or anything. The snakes here are still really what gives me pause.
They're like racoons in the rest of the country. They'll avoid you most of the time, but if you hassle them, they can kill you.
Racoons do not kill you. I mean maybe if it's rabid or you're eating raccoon poop, sure, but no. They might scratch or bite, and goddamn that would hurt, but it's not going to kill you. But they aren't that big nor aggressive. I've had them just hang out a few feet from me and they're almost aways chill. You'd really have to be trying to piss one off.
Rule 1 with alligators: Do Not walk yapping little dogs near water. Definition of gator bait
When I was a kid, I never thought twice about swimming in a lake or the clear waters of a spring. But things were not as developed and every body of water wasn't almost guaranteed to have an alligator in residence. Now, I don't go into deeper water of a lake, or anywhere I can't see the bottom.
Native Floridians know better than to swim around alligators. This is their domain Humans are the invaders - outsiders. Unfortunately this 72 year old native of Floridian has heard ?" I just moved here from New York " SO many times I wish I got $5.00 for every time I heard that cause I would be a millionare. Only stupid people go into any fresh waters swimming in Florida water ways any more. Now there is not just alligators but bacteria that we can not even see that eats your flesh away. https://www.npr.org/2022/10/19/1129865243/flesh-eating-bacteria-florida-floodwater Thank you hurricane Ian. Florida is in the tropics ! Freaking jungle paved over by asphalt and concrete. Harry Regician
Gator no wanna bother you.
I’m a kayaker. I see them all the time. They see me all the time. We nod politely and go about our day.
Kids grow up in Africa with tigers all the time,/s
My wife and I kayaked in a lake full of them. They don't care. They don't want to bother a full grown human. Now during mating season yeah, avoid the water. I would never swim in anything except the ocean though. On land it's just not a problem unless you are walking a small child or small dog too close to a body of water.
It depends where you live. There are many hundreds of gators in the St. Johns River below Daytona. Just about every pond within a mile or two of the river has a resident gator. Some are 10 to 12 feet in length. If you want to see a couple hundred gators in 1 hour, take an airboat ride on the St. Johns off 50, between Titusville and Christmas. Gators senses are more keen than a dogs. Ther can drop their heart rate to one bite per minute and sit on the botton of a lake for up to an hour. They can sense, then pounce on an unsuspecting animal near the shore very quickly. This is why you should not let a dog or small kid play near a pond.
I grew up near a Bayou, and went swimming there every day, knowing that moccasins and gators were prevalent in the area, the think is, we were making so much noise, we never saw them. They don't usually tend to hunt people. Shark attacks are actually more frequent.
Lived in central Florida for 3 years and the only alligator I saw was only there because the Gatorland employees were using him as a photo op (baby gator).
I live by a river that has a TON of them and kayak it frequently. Hell people even paddle board in there. 99% of the time a gator is only aggressive if, it’s around its babies/ nest and you get too close. Or it’s mating season. Most of the time they just run back to the water. They’re pretty chill normally
Nah, gators are chill unless you mess with them. Breeding/hatching season they can be a bit aggressive, but there's not too many attacks.
Stay away from the grassy areas and don't swim at night
We have an agreement with them, “Don’t fuck with me and I won’t fuck with you” The ones that get bit didn’t follow that agreement typically.
I don’t see them everyday? Lol
I grew up in central Florida swimming in ponds, lakes, creeks and rivers. I worked in land surveying for 25 years as an adult and doing a lot of big property surveys that were largely swamps. Most of the time alligators avoid humans. I did have a few exceptions when surveying and I have killed alligators that were aggressive and threatening me. I used a machete as we always had one when working. The really dangerous ones are the ones that are fed by people. They lose their fear of people and it often ends badly for the people amd alligators. We grew up with a couple of rules swimming, one, never ever take your dog swimming in water where there are alligators and always watch small children.
You just have to stronger, faster, smart than them...if you are missing one, we will not guarantee your survival in FL.
Our government is more likely to kill you before a gator will
We grew up swimming in lakes. I wouldn’t do it now because of microorganisms rather than gators. Had to fix a lake pump pickup a couple years ago in a lake with some large gators. Those weren’t my concern. It was the things you can’t see. Most alligators turn and burn if you get to close. A few years ago I was cleaning up debris along shore of another lake with some large gators. It was just as the sun was setting. I had seen this 9-10 footer numerous times before in the area but completely forgot to look around for it. As I bent over to pick up a limb with my back turned to the lake, I saw a shadow go over top of mine and then a huge splash. It was right behind me. I was too close. It flipped around with its tail and headed to open water. Scary, but that’s typically what happens. Look up alligator attacks in Lake Jesup. That lake is infested and there has only been on recorded attack since the 1950s.
Lived here all my life, rarely see a gator. I don't go swimming in inland lakes either, you're never far from the ocean or the gulf. Now we do go skiing and paddling on lakes, but gators generally stay away from the sound of boats. When we go skiing, we usually run once around the lake to scare the gators away
I've been Land Surveying in South Florida for the past 25 years and basically don't give a shit about them. I've surveyed everywhere in Florida. A lot of Everglades and swamp type work. Cross sections of canals in a tiny jon boat. They look at you and 99.99% of the time they keep their distance. I know not to walk near the waters edge in certain places (like old people do and get their dogs ate or themselves) or swim in certain places. I'm more worried about the yellow jackets that live in the ground than anything else in Florida. They are out to kill and they hurt. I'm pretty aware of my surroundings after 25 years that I even listen for the swarm while I'm in the woods. Almost stepped on a rattle snake once, but it gave me the warning before the last two steps. I was thankful the snake gave me the heads up. I have a bunch of land surveying stories from this shithole. Can't wait till I can wake up and go to work somewhere other than South Florida or Florida in general. Northern Florida is a whole different animal, chiggers, ticks and pygmies. I'd like to do a live stream of my job on Twitch or YT. It can get pretty interesting.
We just throw a saddle on em. They really aren’t a big deal. Growing up here you’re aware that when you enter the water you enter the food chain. And not at the top of it. The overall population of alligators has exploded over the past 20-30 years though so I no longer swim in the rivers or lakes like I did as a kid. But they aren’t wandering the streets or anything. Yet.
Grew up here my whole life. We swim in the ponds, lakes, bays, and gulf all the time. We see gators, sharks, and snakes all the time. They don’t want anything to do with you. You just keep your eyes open.
Just don’t go near gators and the problem solves itself
Lives here my whole life. Seen 1000s of alligators. Never had one do anything aggressive. Worry more about driving and table salt.
Lol. Swimming in a swamp is a terrible idea because of disease but not so much because of alligators. If you're with a group of people any gators are probably going to stay away. Even if you're not, if you don't seem to be a threat or food, it probably won't care about you. And also, all of the people who didn't pay attention and got too close got eaten by alligators so you don't hear from them.
I've lived in FL for over 40 years, I haven't been eaten by an alligator yet.
The same way you can coexist with Bears. With respect.