The American alligator is a protected species and a natural resident of Florida, inhabiting all 67 counties in nearly every freshwater and brackish environment, including ponds, rivers, and retention canals. Florida’s alligator population is healthy and stable, estimated at 1.3 million animals. While serious injuries are rare, the volume of alligators and human development near water means encounters are frequent. Understanding how to coexist safely with these reptiles is paramount for residents and visitors. This involves taking preventative measures, knowing how to react during a sighting, and understanding protocols for reporting threatening animals.
Proactive Steps for Avoiding Alligator Encounters
A significant portion of alligator safety focuses on minimizing the chance of an encounter by altering human behavior near water. The most important rule is never to feed an alligator, as this practice is illegal and dangerous. Feeding causes alligators to lose their natural wariness and associate humans with food, increasing the risk of conflict. This loss of fear is a primary factor in an alligator becoming a problem animal that must be removed.
Keep all pets and small children away from the water’s edge. Alligators are opportunistic predators whose natural prey often resembles domestic animals in size and movement. Pets should always be kept on a leash near fresh or brackish water and should never be allowed to swim in these areas. Alligators are most active during the warmer months and between dusk and dawn, making these periods higher risk times. When engaging in water activities, only swim in designated areas and limit those activities to daylight hours.
Properly disposing of fish scraps and entrails is another preventative measure, as these attract alligators to areas where people congregate. Avoid cleaning fish near the water or throwing any parts of the catch into the water. Being mindful of these habits helps maintain the alligator’s natural fear of humans, which is the most effective defense against unprovoked encounters.
Immediate Actions When You Spot an Alligator
If you spot an alligator, maintain a substantial distance and observe it only from afar. Experts advise keeping at least 30 to 50 feet away, as they can move with surprising speed over short distances on land. If you are too close, back away slowly and deliberately, but never turn your back and run, which may trigger a pursuit response. A basking alligator with its mouth open is usually regulating its body temperature, but it should still be given a wide berth.
Never approach, harass, or attempt to provoke an alligator, even if it appears small. These actions are illegal and can prompt a defensive reaction. If an alligator hisses, it is a clear warning that you have encroached too closely, and you must immediately retreat. Should an alligator make contact or bite you, the recommended defense is to fight back vigorously, targeting the reptile’s sensitive snout and eyes.
Identifying and Reporting Nuisance Alligators
Not every alligator sighting requires regulatory intervention; the majority of alligators retreat when approached and do not pose a threat. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) defines a “nuisance alligator” as one that is at least four feet long and is believed to pose a threat to people, pets, or property. This definition targets alligators that have lost their natural fear, are approaching people, acting aggressively, or wandering into inappropriate locations like swimming pools or garages. An aggressive alligator of any size may also be deemed a nuisance.
The FWC administers the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) to address these situations and dispatch contracted trappers. If you encounter an alligator that meets the nuisance criteria, call the toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). The FWC uses the report from a firsthand witness to determine if removal by a licensed trapper is necessary. Nuisance alligators are not relocated, as they often try to return to their capture site, creating a continued risk.