It's that time of year again: alligator breeding season.
It starts in early April and runs through June.
Female alligators guard their nests fiercely, protecting them from predators. But that protective instinct can sometimes lead to dangerous encounters.
"If you're walking on a nature path and there's an alligator nest nearby, she's gonna defend it," said Joe Wasilewski, a wildlife expert at the University of Florida's Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.
Female alligators build a mound nest of soil, vegetation or debris — often near a water source.
These nests can reach up to 3 feet high and 5 feet across.
They typically lay 32 to 46 eggs in late June or early July, and the eggs hatch from mid-August through early September.
The females usually stay within 10 feet of the nest, hissing and opening their mouths to frighten intruders but rarely bite people.
Florida is home to more than 1 million alligators, and they can be found in all 67 counties. So the chances you could see an alligator are pretty high.
There have been rumors of alligators running up to 35 mph and that the best way to escape is reportedly to run in zigzags. But Wasilewski says that's not true.
"If there's an alligator behind you, you're gonna be faster than it, trust me on that one," said Wasilewski. "You don't have to worry about zigzag, just run."
Although alligators can move quickly on land, they are not well adapted to chase prey there. However, they can lunge at prey near shorelines.
When do alligators attack
Alligators don't usually bite people for reasons other than food.
Most attacks occur near or in waterways inhabited by alligators, particularly in areas where people have fed alligators — which is illegal.
Wasilewski explained that when alligators are fed, they become accustomed to people and will view people as a feeding platform and come up to them. That's when they're dangerous, when they lose their fear of people.
" Don't be chummy with them, then they won't be chummy back with you," Wasilewski said. " It's best to observe alligators from a distance, enjoy 'em, take a nice picture and just go away."
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there have been about 490 recorded alligator bites and 27 fatalities since 1948.
In the past decade, the state has averaged eight unprovoked bites per year that are serious enough to require professional medical treatment.
" Being attacked by an alligator in Florida is a one-in-several million proposition, kind of like winning the lottery," Wasilewski said. " But again, it could happen. So could winning the lottery."
Ecological Importance
Alligators are stewards of the land the entire year. And particularly during Florida's dry season, they play a vital role.
During the dry season, the Everglades dries up and there's no surface water. But alligators dig out "gator holes" that can be 50 feet across and several feet deep.
Those become crucial watering spots for fish and other aquatic wildlife until the rain comes back.
"Alligators are engineers of the Everglades," Wasilewski said. "They're top predators and they have a serious role in the ecology everywhere they're found."
How to know if there's a nest nearby?
Alligators live in practically all fresh and brackish waters, and sometimes even in saltwater.
But if you're unsure about an area, ask park rangers, local authorities and community managers. There might also be signs and many times, the area where the alligators are nesting might also be roped off or marked.
"Don't be frightened, just be aware, and if there is [an] alligator nesting in the area, just stay out of it until it's over," Wasilewski said.
Safety Tips
- Supervise children when they're playing in or near water.
- Swim only in designated areas.
- Swim only during daylight hours. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.
- Keep pets away from waterways that may contain alligators. Dogs resemble the natural prey of alligators and their barking and playing may draw an alligator to the area.
- Never feed alligators or throw fish scraps in the water. You might not be intentionally feeding alligators but the result can be the same.
- If bitten, fight back and provide as much noise and resistance as possible. Hitting, kicking or poking it in its eyes may cause it to release its grip.
- Seek immediate medical help if bitten — bites often lead to serious infection.
If you see an alligator that poses a threat, call the FWC's Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 1‐866‐FWC‐GATOR (392‐4286).
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