Where to find alligators in florida

The small gators eat fish, frogs and other small animals but are typically not large enough to pose a threat, even to small pets. Sometimes however, FWC says the small gators can pose a legitimate problem and must be addressed. In that case, call the hotline at No, the nuisance alligators are killed. FWC says this is because relocated alligators often try to return to their capture site.

If an alligator successfully returns, capturing it again would be necessary and likely more difficult the second time," FWC says. To avoid that problem, the alligators would need to be relocated to remote areas where they wouldn't encounter people, according to FWC. Those remote areas already have healthy alligator populations with established social structures. FWC says the introduction of a new alligator would likely cause fighting, and possibly result in the death of a resident alligator or the introduced alligator.

According to FWC, the odds of being seriously injured during an unprovoked alligator incident in Florida is about one in 3. In , statistics show 9 people were bitten by alligators. Of those, 8 were considered major and one was fatal. Found in ponds, wetlands, marshes, swamps, lakes, and rivers, gators increase plant diversity and provide habitat for other animals during droughts.

This makes them very important to their ecosystems! While as of , alligators were considered an endangered species, conservation efforts have reversed this! Actually, Florida has both! South Florida is actually the only place in the world where both crocodiles and alligators can coexist! While both creatures are dangerous, alligators prefer freshwater habitats while crocodiles prefer saltwater habitats.

Alligators have u-shaped faces while crocodiles have more toothy grins. The average count of alligators in Florida is staggering: 1. This is incredible, considering they were once endangered! Gators are so populous now, that is one is big enough, you can report it to animal control. How long do alligators live? On average, most live between years. Some alligators, despite fighting for their lives, can be known to live up to 70 years. The oldest recorded alligator life has exceeded years!

Did you know that the alligator population has grown so much, that from , Disney World had to remove over of them? Florida is home to two different types of alligators. The American and Chinese alligators both make Florida their home, but the two could not be more different.

While alligators are the largest reptiles in North America, the American variety is much larger than the Chinese alligator. The easiest way to tell these two apart is to look at their snouts.

The Chinese alligator has a tapered, more narrow snout than the American alligator. While both varieties are carnivores, the Chinese alligator has a more blunt set of teeth, better equipped to eat shellfish. This being said, you should be more cautious when dealing with American alligators.

American alligators will attack and eat anything if they are hungry enough. They have been known to attack turtles, humans, and family pets like cats and dogs. Chinese alligators have been known not to attack humans. On average, an American alligator, the most common type of alligator in Florida, can grow up to pounds and as long as 13 feet. How large are alligators? Males averagely grow to 9.

Females in general rarely exceed 10 feet, but males can grow much larger. In the wild, alligators can live years. As stunning as they look, you should always stay a minimum of 50 feet away! With over , wild alligators calling this park their home, this is one of the best places to see alligators in Florida! The Everglades is made up of 1. Sawgrass marshes, pinewood flats, and coastal mangroves make up the park! This is the only place in the world where crocodiles and alligators can coexist.

Alligators are one of the most important parts of the Everglades ecosystem. The nesting activity of females is the biggest creator of peat in the area! Take a airboat tour of a tram ride! Your closest views of the gators will be on Anhinga Trail at Royal palm, which is a ten minute drive from the Ernest Coe Visitor Center!

While alligators are one of the most dangerous predators in the park, we recommend bringing bug repellant. Without it, the mosquitos are almost unbearable! Popular for its proximity to Tampa, spotting a gator is easy here! Among the many ecosystems found on the Wetlands Trail are habitats perfect for alligators.

These are great areas for them because it is so swampy! Keep your eyes peeled on the Rapids Trail, there are almost always gators lounging on a log or floating in the water. Walk along the stationary bridge and gators will be sunbathing on a bank across the river.

For a safe swim free of alligators, take a dip in the State Park Pool! There are two alligator species: the American and the Chinese Alligator sinensis. Alligators and crocodiles are in different families. Alligators have a wider, rounded U-shaped snout while crocs have a more pointed V-shaped snout.

While alligators primarily live in the southeastern U. Crocodiles favor saltwater areas while alligators prefer freshwater and brackish water habitats. Southern Florida is the only place where alligators and crocodiles coexist.

American alligators inhabit most of the southeastern United States; primarily Louisiana, Florida, and Georgia. The largest population of gators live in Gainesville, FL. They live in freshwater rivers, lakes, swamps, and marshes. There are an estimated five million American alligators in the southeastern U.

Year after year we find that children and adults are always interested in learning more information about alligators when visiting Florida. Alligators can grow up to pounds and 13 feet long on average. Females do have a tendency to be smaller than males. According to the Everglades National Park, the largest alligator ever recorded measured 17 feet, 5 inches. They eat primarily fish, birds, turtles, various mammals, and other reptiles.

If the alligator is big enough it will eat larger prey such as deer, bear, razorbacks, or other alligators. If the gator has caught something too large to consume in one bite it typically drowns it by violently spinning it in the water. It will then store it for a couple days to allow decomposition and easier consumption afterward. Alligators live an average of years in the wild.

They have been known to live years in human care. Mating season is mid-April through May and alligators have a heightened aggression during this time.