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A visitor center will help you find the best places to spy the prehistoric beasts. Lakes abound and rivers run through the forest giving alligators plenty of spots to do their thing. Boaters, paddlers and fishermen see plenty. At five locations along the coast of west Florida, large ponds of baby gators are a big attraction.
Lots of golfers start or end their round of miniature golf by feeding the alligators. We come across lots of weird and wonderful Florida facts. So we thought we'd share a few. OK, more than a few. You never know By Scott Barnett Ready for a new paddling adventure?
Experience a bioluminescent paddling tour on the waters around Merritt Island National Wildlife Best of all, you The last one, a half-century later in the Back Where to See Alligators in Florida. By Janet K.
Here are some of the best places to see alligators in Florida:. Everglades National Park. If [the gator has] threatened people or animals, they usually harvest them. There are a lot of them there, I know that. To report a nuisance gator, or find a licensed trapper, click on this link here. Award-winning investigative reporter Merris Badcock joined the News 6 team in October Merris is the recipient of a Regional Edward R.
Local News. Which lake in Florida has the most alligators? Even tiny Palm Beach had at least one removed during the same time period when a wayward gator found itself on the beach side of the Intracoastal.
They just push through the screen and off they go. American alligators are no longer an endangered species, but are protected under a classification that allows only people with special licenses and permits to take them. The FWC decides whether it poses a risk and will then assign a trapper that it contracts with and licenses.
Otherwise, nuisance gators can be sold to an alligator farm. If one bites you, the advice is to make the most noise possible and work hard to get away. Use force if necessary. The Aquarium is closed for maintenance. Back Tickets Close. Facebook keywest aquarium Instagram keywest aquarium twitter keywest aquarium youtube keywest aquarium. Where are they found in the United States?
How large can they grow? What do they eat? How do you tell males from females? How long do they live? When do they reproduce? How good is their sight? Do alligators hunt people? Are they endangered? Living With Alligators in Florida.
– Ultimate Guide To Florida Alligators | Facts About Gators In Florida
As we mentioned earlier in this article, alligator attacks are rare. That said, if you are unlucky enough to cross paths with an angry gator, and it bites you, that doesn't automatically mean you're doomed. It is vital that you fight back and not just lie still. Punch, hit, kick, or attack the eyes of the gator that has sunk its teeth into you.
Odds are, the alligator will release and retreat because they don't want to go after prey that could potentially harm them. In general, it's a good idea to always keep at least 50 feet between you and any nearby gators. When people say alligators are all over the place in Florida, they're not lying.
They already feel they have free run of the place, but, when bad weather strikes, it's not uncommon to find displaced gators in the roads, in local swimming pools, and even in your backyard.
They even like to hang out on golf courses. Most locals are aware of the alligators around and know how to steer clear of them. However, there have been repeated cases of alligators getting into peoples' yards and homes. Alligators have always frequented Disney World, but the issue came to a head in after a tragic incident involving an alligator killing a two-year-old boy at a Walt Disney World hotel.
The parents were incensed about the attack and the fact the alligators were left to roam around. In an article published in the Washington Post , it was reported that the park had more than alligators removed between and In the days before the attack, six alligators were removed, and, in the days after, five more were removed.
Some of them were more than 6-feet long. It's not all that surprising given how well-kept the waters are. Now there are signs up warning guests about the possibility of encountering a gator in certain areas. Given their tremendous size and proclivity towards the water, you wouldn't expect that alligators would be skilled at climbing, but they are. Next door is the Hillsborough Park Poolside Cafe which offers food and beverages as well as umbrellas and lounge chairs rentals! Birds flutter by as Spanish moss hangs from the oaks like cobwebs.
On the 7 mile auto tour, you will most assuredly see a gator from the safety of your own car! Alligators can be seen in winter on warm and sunny days, but they are most visible basking in the sun during the winter and fall months. If you venture out on the hiking trails, make sure to wear bug spray! Be cautious, alligators can be sunning themselves nearby these trails.
Always be aware and make sure to never feed or harass the alligators! Make a stop at the Manatee Observation Center to see wild manatees before you head home! Just north of Orlando, Ocala National Forest is square miles, known for its sand pine scrub forest. In addition to seeing alligators, this park is full of activities perfect for the whole family! The best place to see alligators at the Ocala National Forest is on the riverbanks, where they will be sunbathing on the shore!
Alligators are also visible on the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway, a driving path which cuts through the heart of the forest. For a closer look, rent a canoe and hit the water on the Salt Springs Run. Highly considered one of the best paddle trails in the country, you can spend hours in a canoe looking at gators on the shore. Because there is so much shade provided by the tree canopies, this trail is especially refreshing in the summer.
In Sarasota County, a trip to see alligators in this 37, acre park is one of the most fun things to do in Sarasota! Alligator sightings are possible year-round in all bodies of water in the park, but park rangers say your best shot for seeing these creatures is in early spring. Alligators like warm, but not hot weather!
In the hottest months of the Florida year, alligators will tend to spend more time in the water. They like to lie on the bottom of rivers and lakes where it is cooler.
Mating season is actually in late March, one of the easiest times to see alligators in Florida. Scientists and researchers have not been able to figure out why, but at least gators have been spotted in this area in one sighting! If you would like a safer, guided tour, follow signs for the Myakka Outpost once you enter the park to find an airboat guided tour.
Lake Kissimmee is just south of Orlando is the third largest lake and the third largest park in the state of Florida! Of all the attractions in Orland o, is Lake Kissimmee State Park, perfect for viewing all kinds of wildlife, not just alligators. Just off of SR 60, you can see bald eagles, ospreys, bobcats, as well as alligators in this lush park.
You will want to look for the alligators in the canals and lakes, first though. Lake Jessup, in Central Florida, is one of the biggest home of Florida gators, with an average of 12, per year.
It is estimated that there are gators per mile of shoreline in Lake Jessup! Lake Jessup is the ideal environment for gators, as the grounds are loaded with mudfish, shad, and turtles, which are all perfect for a gator dinner.
This is the second most populated place to find wild alligators in Florida, second only to Lake Okeechobee! While the state record for length of wild alligators in Florida is only They say its only a matter of time that they bring him in for measuring, but we recommend caution and distance when visiting. Over 16, acres, Lake Jessup is a popular tourist attraction with brewing companies and sunflower parks.
The St. Terry Ward. Published: April 16, Lake Alice is a sanctuary for alligators right on campus at the University of Florida photo courtesy of the University of Florida Lake Wauburg, Gainesville, Florida We used to go waterskiing on Lake Wauburg , eight miles south of the University of Florida campus, as college students.
Paddleboarding, kayaking and even swimming are allowed at Lake Wauburg, where wild alligators also live. A still alligator in calm waters makes for a perfect photo subject at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in Gainesville, Florida photo courtesy of Sweetwater Wetlands Park Where to see wild alligators in South and Southwest Florida Everglades National Park is the most obvious place to go looking for alligators in the wild, but there are many other places in South and Southwest Florida where you can strike it lucky with gator sightings.
Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida Whenever people tell me they have one day to see the Everglades and ask where they should go to see alligators, I either point them to an airboat tour outside the park or to the mile-long pathway along the Anhinga Trail within Everglades National Park. The Anhinga Trail is one of the first places you get to from the Homestead entrance of Everglades National Park, and almost a guaranteed spot to see alligators.
Alligator Alley between Fort Lauderdale and Naples, Florida Every time I cross from between the east and west coasts of Florida along the highway called Alligator Alley, also known as Interstate, I find it hard to focus on driving for all the alligators I spot sunning themselves in the canals lining both sides of the highway. Share This :. Even tiny Palm Beach had at least one removed during the same time period when a wayward gator found itself on the beach side of the Intracoastal.
They just push through the screen and off they go. American alligators are no longer an endangered species, but are protected under a classification that allows only people with special licenses and permits to take them. The FWC decides whether it poses a risk and will then assign a trapper that it contracts with and licenses. Otherwise, nuisance gators can be sold to an alligator farm.