are there alligators in florida

The Everglades Alligator Farm in Homestead, Florida offers snake shows, alligator shows, alligator feedings, and iconic airboat rides through the Everglades. … “It’s an iconic species and conservation success story. RELATED: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Loch Ness Monster. Dolphins In Hunt For Division Title, First Time Since 2008 Alligators have always frequented Disney World, but the issue came to a head in 2016 after a tragic incident involving an alligator killing a two-year-old boy at a Walt Disney World hotel. Alligators have inhabited Florida's marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes for many centuries, and are found in all 67 counties. But gators don't stay confined to the swampy areas. The deaths are among 383 unprovoked bites not caused by someone handling or intentionally harassing an alligator. It's not at all uncommon to catch alligators scaling fences. You are very likely to run into these reptiles during your Everglades airboat tour , and you may be wondering what the difference is between the two. Go to any fresh water source in Florida, whether it’s a lake or a river, and chances are there will be at least one alligator lurking around. The largest Florida alligator on record was just over 14 ft. in length. Statewide, 6,700 nuisance alligators were killed or relocated in 2017. There are over a million gators who live in Florida even though they’re listed as being endangered since they look a lot like the American crocodile, which is endangered. When people say alligators are all over the place in Florida, they're not lying. There were crocodiles and alligators in the past, though they didn't look the same as the ones in existence today. Year after year we find that the Alligator Exhibit at the Aquarium is one of the most informative Key West Attractions because children and adults are always interested in learning information about alligators when they visit Florida. … Alligators are as much a part of the state as pelicans, dolphins, sharks and hurricanes. Go to any fresh water source in Florida, whether it’s a lake or a river, and chances are there will be at least one alligator lurking around. In an article published in the Washington Post, it was reported that the park had more than 200 alligators removed between 2006 and 2015. An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae.The two extant species are the American alligator (A. mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator (A. sinensis).Additionally, several extinct species of alligator are known from fossil remains. There have been 23 fatalities caused by Florida alligators since 1973. There are 1.3 million alligators in all 67 counties of Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, making run-ins an inevitability. An American Alligator rests on the shore of the alligator lagoon at Everglades Alligator Farm in Homestead, Florida, on June 24, 2016. The most important thing is to be alert and stay out of areas rife with alligator activity. Alligators, some of them babies, young, are all over Florida (except the zoos, cages of Disneyland), but it’s not wise to visit the swamplands (Everglades) of Southern Florida, since the gators there do not comprehend or respect the concept of “social distancing” & they have great eyesight, especially at night. In a pair of photos taken by Jeff Jones and tweeted by WINK News reporter Matt Devitt, an incredibly large gator can be seen strolling through a residential area. Here are ten facts you might not know about Flordia alligators. And a lot of them. They even took us to an old smuggling plane that had crashed years ago in the Lake. A lot of lakes, swamps, ponds and canals can have at least one or more alligators in them. Be mindful of where they are located at all times, RELATED: 10 Best Places To Visit In Florida. Alligators tend to eat their young to administer population control and ensure they don't have too much competition for food sources. It's not all that surprising given how well-kept the waters are. The media makes it seem worse than it is. Some of them were more than 6-feet long. Le Chateau Frontenac Has A Pool, And Here's How Else You Can Keep The Kids Entertained, 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Loch Ness Monster, 10 Of The Most Haunted Places To Visit In Florida, 12 Embarrassing Photos Taken On Vacation With A Selfie Stick. Alligators. It's not just us who have to fear being eaten by an alligator; even other alligators have to be cautious around each other! Now there are signs up warning guests about the possibility of encountering a gator in certain areas. Gatorama is an iconic Florida roadside attraction that has been drawing gator-curious tourists since 1957. -- Take a look at an enormous alligator that stopped golfers in their tracks in Florida on Wednesday. Springs, alligators and bears in Northern Florida Posted by laurenwinslowllewellyn on November 5, 2016 January 5, 2019 After our first Floridian Spring we were hooked and excited to … In fact, alligators are so synonymous with the state that they are found in 67 counties, and the University of Florida even has an alligator as their mascot. They may be big, but they're surprisingly agile creatures. Florida alligators are showing their true flexibility and range -- social media has caught one climbing a fence and another swimming in a flooded road. In truth, they aren't. Male alligators tend to grow larger than females. ... To Geshel's surprise, there were two alligators around 7 feet in length outside her Pelican Preserve home in Fort Myers. We had family that ranged from 6 yrs old to over 60 and everyone really enjoyed it and I would highly recommend trying it if you are in the Lake Placid / Sebring area of Central Florida. The behemoth alligator caught taking a stroll at a Florida golf course -- and stupefying the whole of social media -- is "nothing abnormal," according to gator experts. A gigantic alligator has been spotted in Naples, Florida. Set right near the entrance of Everglades National Park, the Everglades Alligator Farm is the oldest of its kind in south Florida. But alligators keep their population in check. Hopefully next storm, these alligators find a less public spot to walk around.”. Both alligators and crocodiles came from dinosaurs and it’s believed that alligators have remained unchanged for … The largest Florida alligator on record was just over 14 ft. in length. There are probably more than 1 million alligators in Florida, most of them live in South Florida, but also a lot can be found in the Orlando area. The Florida Everglades is famous for many things, one of them being the only environment on earth in which American Alligators and American Crocodiles coexist in harmony. These reptiles are not pack animals; they typically hang out alone, and, therefore, it makes sense they would have no issue with killing off any competition to their livelihood. Alligators appear in multiple places around the continental United States, but they're most predominantly known for living in Florida because of the Everglades and a large number of swamps. However, when you compare that to car crash statistics, it pales in comparison. The answer I got varied from “there are, but their shy and stay away from humans.” To “The American Crocodiles numbers were as low as 300, but have been slowly growing in the Everglades National Park.” As we mentioned earlier in this article, alligator attacks are rare. If you tread on one in the dark, well, yes, they may attack. A gigantic alligator has been spotted in Naples, Florida. Yes, without a doubt. Yet long before official recognition, giant alligators ran the untamed swamps of Florida. Alligators are no strangers to cannibalism. This, … ', Florida Senator Marco Rubio On Biden: 'Talks Like Centrist, Governs Like Someone From The Far Left', Florida Quietly Launched Phone Appointment System For COVID-19 Vaccinations. Florida’s official state reptile was named the American alligator back in 1987. They say there are 1000's of Gators in Lake Istokopoga and I dont want to jump in to challenge that claim. There are an estimated five million American alligators in the southeastern U.S. with a quarter of the alligator population in Florida. Be careful if you walk your dog or start swimming somewhere, be sure it is free of alligators. There are so many alligators in Florida, that it sometimes appears they are overpopulating. But in short, there’s nothing unusual about this alligator or the video,” he said on Twitter. Alligators first appeared during the Oligocene epoch about 37 million years ago. There have been 23 fatalities caused by wild alligators in Florida since 1973, among 383 unprovoked bites not caused by someone handling or intentionally harassing an alligator. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that these creatures are somewhat monstrous in appearance. In general, as long as you stay clear of them and don't go swimming in their home or get close to their nests, and you should be fine. Alligators in Florida: Postcard of West Bay Street in Jacksonville, where alligator souvenirs were sold. There's a lot of wildlife in Florida, and usually locals don't bat an eye when they come in close contact with a rogue reptile or amphibian. 6 The Estimated Alligator Population In Florida Is Around One Million According to Newsweek, it is estimated that there are around 1.3 million alligators in Florida. The largest ever caught in the sunshine state reportedly measured up to a staggering 17.4 feet-long. Alligators have taken on legendary status as predators to fear, especially for people who live in an area as populated with them as Florida is. “They’re out there,” said ‘Gator Girl’ Kristy Kroboth of the massive alligator spotted on a Naples, Florida golf course. Record Number Of Invasive Pythons Removed From Florida Everglades. Alligators eat a lot of gar. ©2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The easiest way to see an alligator is to go to one of the many zoos and alligator farms, but if you want to see these impressive reptiles in the wild, there are several places you can go to increase your chances of getting a really good look at them. A Florida woman is recovering from injuries she received when she was attacked by a 10-foot, 4-inch alligator while trimming trees in Fort Myers. (SLIDESHOW: These Women On Instagram Hate Wearing Clothes) Take a look at the photos below. Hiding in the thick marshland, alligators in Florida will usually eat insects, amphibians, fish, snakes, turtles, and other small mammals. Scientist Brian Switek stated that "crocodylians are capable of breaking down the carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in vegetable matter, so the fruit-eating by these archosaurs could be a nutritional supplement. Pregnancy and parenting news, given to you in a way nobody else has. They look like something that crawled out of the prehistoric era. Are there alligators in the Florida Keys? “As a result from recent tropical weather, we are currently experiencing the highest water levels that we’ve seen since 1962 during this time of the year. Crocodiles, on the other hand, are rare and secretive creatures that inhabit coastal, brackish, and salt-water habitats. While the Everglades are teeming with gators – about 200,000 – there are many other spots to have a safe encounter. The State of Florida has a nuisance alligator program and will respond quickly to any concerns. The sheer size of the animal had many on social media questioning whether it was actually real. But residents for Fort Myers, Florida, say they've had a few encounters with alligators that have been too close for comfort, the Huffington Post first reported.. However, that's not to say that they wouldn't go after a cow if given the opportunity! Alligators are native to only the United States, Mexico, and China.. American alligators are found in the southeast United States: all of Florida and Louisiana; the southern parts of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi; coastal South and North Carolina; East Texas, the southeast corner of Oklahoma, and the southern tip of Arkansas.Louisiana has the largest alligator population. There are about 1.3 million wild alligators in Florida, according to an estimate from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Alligators eat a lot of gar. Wildlife in the area is adapting, too; alligators and snakes are moving and finding new spots to sun bathe,” said the Everglades National Park in a recent Facebook post. Kroboth earns a living tracking and capturing alligators. Miami-Dade Public Schools Reconvenes Its Coronavirus Task Force With so many of these predators roaming around, one might anticipate fatal alligator attacks are a regular occurrence. MIAMI (CBSMiami) — Not one, but two huge alligators were spotted recently taking leisurely strolls in Florida and the videos are going viral. Typically, alligators have about 80 teeth in their mouth at one time, but they lose teeth frequently. Most of us think of alligators as vicious, carnivorous predators, but did you know they are fond of eating fruit? A family vacationing in South Florida last year came across an unlikely sight: a live gator perched on top of a gator pool float at their Airbnb. Now spotting an alligator in Florida isn’t difficult. That’s exactly what happened to Tyler Stolting last week when he spotted a gigantic alligator near a tee box at the Valencia Golf & Country Club in Naples on Wednesday, Nov. 11. However, there have been repeated cases of alligators getting into peoples' yards and homes. NEXT: 10 Things You Can Only Do In Florida. Alligator breaks into Florida house 00:37. With so many of these predators roaming around, one might anticipate fatal alligator attacks are a regular occurrence. The deaths are among 383 unprovoked bites not caused by someone handling or intentionally harassing an alligator. Alligator bites are serious, but injuries caused by the massive reptiles are rare in Florida, according to the FWC. By viewing our video content, you are accepting the terms of our. There have been 23 fatalities caused by Florida alligators since 1973. There are so many alligators in Florida, that it sometimes appears they are overpopulating. MORE FROM CBSMIAMI.COM You might see an alligator swimming in a puddle on a crowded intersection or even visiting your neighbor's swimming pool. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do about an alligator that crawls into your house through the kitchen window. According to Smithsonian Magazine, it has indeed been proven that alligators will enjoy the occasional elderberry, citrus fruit, or wild grapes if they find them out in the wild. We had family that ranged from 6 yrs old to over 60 and everyone really enjoyed it and I would highly recommend trying it if you are in the Lake Placid / Sebring area of Central Florida. Florida is home to an estimated two million American alligators, which means there is an alligator for every twenty-one acres of land in the state of Florida. Alligators are everywhere in Florida – official estimates suggest there may be more than 1.25 million of them in Florida’s waters. Florida Wildlife: Alligators pound front door of Fort Myers home. An estimated 1.3 million alligators live in Florida, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife. Florida residents know that we share the state with a large alligator population — an estimated 1.3 million to be exact! It's not the first time an alligator has been spotted on the golf course. Given their tremendous size and proclivity towards the water, you wouldn't expect that alligators would be skilled at climbing but they are. And our water levels are still rising. Many residents seek waterfront homes, and increasingly participate in water-related activities. Male alligators tend to grow larger than females. The Everglades Alligator Farm is a great stop for travelers heading to the Florida Keys who want to take an airboat ride and see a wildlife show. Florida residents know that we share the state with a large alligator population — an estimated 1.3 million to be exact! A juvenile alligator is more likely to be eaten by a big alligator than fall prey to another predator. The only place to satisfy all of your guilty pleasures. Thing straight ; alligators and crocodiles will eat fruit, and there are about 1.3 alligators... 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