It’s that time of year when Florida alligators can be more aggressive than usual, so Treasure Coast residents and visitors should be more cautious, especially around freshwater bodies such as canals, ponds, lakes and wetlands.
The alligator reproduction season starts in April and ends in September, typically along this timeline, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:
Males can be more aggressive during courtship and mating while females can be more aggressive during nesting and hatching.
Alligator attacks can be deadly, so prevention is key. As the saying goes, “The alligator that attacks is the one you don’t see,” so be particularly careful around dark water.
Most common places to see an alligator
An estimated 1.3 million alligators live in Florida, according to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services. They can live anywhere, land or sea, including water bodies such as:
That means alligators may be found next to hiking trails, in golf course lakes, in residential lakes and in the Savannas Preserve State Park.
FWC rules about alligators
Here are some FWC tips for staying safe around alligators:
Alligator attacks
The odds of being bitten in an unprovoked attack in Florida is roughly one in 1.3 million, according to FWC.
In Florida, 26 people have died in unprovoked alligator attacks from 1948-2022, FWC says.
Alligators have killed at least two people on the Treasure Coast, including:
Nuisance alligators
People concerned about an alligator should call the FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).
Generally, an alligator is deemed a nuisance if it is at least 4 feet in length and the caller believes it poses a threat to people, pets or property.
There are situations when smaller alligators wind up in places that are not acceptable, such as swimming pools, garages, etc., and must be removed.
Keith Burbank is TCPalm’s watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com and at 720-288-6882. Contributing: Cheryl McCloud.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Here’s where alligator’s lurk and how you can prevent an attack
Reporting by Keith Burbank, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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