12 Things You Didn’t Know About Alligators In Florida (2024)

FAQs

What are some interesting facts about alligators in Florida? ›

Female alligators rarely exceed 10 feet in length, but males can grow much larger. The Florida state record for length is a 14 foot 3-1/2 inch male from Lake Washington in Brevard County. The Florida record for weight is a 1,043 pound (13 feet 10-1/2 inches long) male from Orange Lake in Alachua County.

There is a repellent that you can make at home. All you need is to combine ammonia and human urine in a spray bottle. The reason this is thought to keep alligators out of your lake is because it is similar to a predator's scent. Because of that smell the alligator will often choose to stay away.

During the day, alligators prefer to bask in the sun or sleep. These huge reptiles spend up to 17 hours asleep within a 24-hour cycle. There is a good reason behind this extensive sleeping pattern. Alligators are cold-blooded animals and do not need to eat regularly throughout the day.

Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn, so plan accordingly to reduce the chances of running into them. Although many Floridians have learned to coexist with alligators, the potential for conflict always exists.

But despite their size and strength, there are animals that do prey on them. Man appears to be their biggest predator. Big cats like leopards and panthers sometimes kill and eat these big reptiles. Large snakes can also do a lot of damage to alligators and crocodiles.

They essentially dig tunnels in the mud where they sleep and when they come out of the gator hole, other animals come in and inhabit the area. It can be hard to say how long these gators will sleep in the tunnels, however once the weather starts to warm up, they will come out of the dormancy.

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, Lake George, near the St. Johns River in northeast Florida, has the most-- more than 2,300. Lake Kissimmee, near Orlando, comes in second with just shy of 2,000.

Running away is a good option and a distance of around 20 or 30 feet is usually all it takes to get safely away from an alligator. "They are not made for running after prey," he said. Making a lot of noise can also scare off a gator before any attack begins.

“Alligators are aggressive because of an enlargement in the medulla oblongata. It's the sector of the brain that controls the aggressive behavior.” “That is correct! The medulla oblongata!”

Alligators have a natural fear of humans, and usually begin a quick retreat when approached by people. If you have a close encounter with an alligator a few yards away, back away slowly. It is extremely rare for wild alligators to chase people, but they can run up to 35 miles per hour for short distances on land.

Can alligators climb trees? ›

Crocodiles and alligators can -- and do -- climb trees. “Climbing behavior is common among crocodilians,” reads a new study in Herpetology Notes.

Alligators Can Leap Five Feet In The Air

That's because alligators can leap up to five feet out of the water to snag their dinner. They do this by pushing themselves up with their tails. It's an incredible sight to see (as long as you're a safe distance away while watching it).

The alligator's running speed is a little slower than the average human, but they're known to sprint as fast as 35 mph. Imagine seeing this large, dinosaurian creature running towards you at that speed. It's enough to give you a nightmare. The good news is you can outrun an alligator.

Like cats, an alligator has a tapetum lucidum at the back of each eye – a structure that reflects light back into the photoreceptor cells to make the most of low light. The colour of eyeshine differs from species to species. In alligators, it glows red – one good way to locate alligators on a dark night.

When they are cold, they sunbathe, and when they are hot, they go for a swim. This means on a rainy day you may not see as many alligators on land, however, alligators are rather curious creatures which means they will swim up to a boat just to check it out even in the rain.

Alligators are nocturnal, thus most active from dusk to dawn. Avoid being near the water's edge or swimming during this key feeding time. Alligators lunge from still water to catch unsuspecting prey near the shoreline.

American alligators are most active and aggressive during alligator mating season, which lasts from April to June. Male gators are on the prowl for a female and can have a home range of over 1,000 acres during the mating season. They are aware and intent on driving competition away during their quest for a mate.

So, where are all the gators in late Autumn and Winter? Alligators tend to stop feeding when the temperature drops below 70 degrees and become dormant at around 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lake Okeechobee, which has a surface area measuring 730 square miles, is the largest lake in Florida, as well as the most alligator-infested lake in the state.

Where are the least alligators in Florida? ›

Some of the more popular areas in Central Florida that aren't occupied by alligators or sharks are freshwater spring-fed rivers. Some of these may include: Ichetucknee Springs, Madison Blue Spring, Withlacoochee, and Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail.

Alligators typically don't think of people as food. According to Nick Wiley, the executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, “People -- even small people -- are not their typical prey.”

Since alligators spend most of their time sunbathing on the shores, there are often telltale signs of their presence. Some of these markings might include large indentations or gouges in the ground and sliding marks where they reentered the water.

As we've established, alligators spend most of their day, sleeping under the sun if it's not too hot, drifting in the water to stay cool, or they hide and sleep in their gator holes.

The Alligator Alley segment of I-75 extends from a toll plaza just east of Naples to an interchange with I-595 and the Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) in Sunrise just west of Fort Lauderdale.

An enormous, 11-foot, 5 inch alligator was found taking a relaxing swim in a pool in a Florida resident's backyard. The gator was found in the Volusia County property at around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, having burst through the screen porch surrounding the pool and clambered into the water.

All natural Florida lakes contain alligators and snakes. In addition, the majority of natural Florida lakes have dark or stained water limiting visibility. Alligators and snakes depend upon the ability to ambush prey to survive.

If you can escape on land, run away in a straight line. Experts debunk the advice to zig-zag. Gators can move really fast on land, but only in short bursts and distances before they tire out. Try to cause a gag reflex by jamming any objects you can reach into the back of the alligator's mouth.

The alligator's growl, known as a bellow, is primarily used for finding a mate, but can also be used to communicate with other alligators.

The best way to stop alligators (or any other unwanted creature) from entering your pool is to create a barrier. A fence can help, but a screen enclosure will prevent most small animals, rodents and birds from entering your pool.

How do you outsmart an alligator? ›

If you happen to lock eyes with an alligator on land, forget running in a zigzag. Run away as fast as you can in a straight line. Alligators will typically chase a human only to defend their territory.

If you're in water, fight as if your life depends on it

Punch the alligator, poke it in the eyes, hit it in the head. If you've got a hand in its mouth, stick it down in its gullet.

Researchers found that the small, spotted bumps that cover the skin of crocodiles and alligators are chock full of nerve endings that are exquisitely sensitive to pressure and vibration. Even more sensitive than human fingertips.

Cats are feared by alligators as well because of how rapidly they move. In the wild, animals that can move swiftly are thought to have a biological advantage. When faced with a risky circ*mstance, cats have a propensity for acting impulsively and quickly.

Their diet consists primarily of fish, birds, turtles, snakes, frogs, mammals and crème brûlée (we may have made that last one up). Hatchlings will typically feed on on smaller prey such as crabs, minnows, snails, and worms. As they grow, alligators gradually move on to small fish, then larger prey.

American alligators are reportedly quite fond of eating dogs. If you do walk your dog near the water, keep it on a leash and be on guard for any movement on or near the water.

Alligators like airboat rides too! In south Florida a gator jumped into an airboat while it was stopped.

Avoid swimming in areas known to harbor large alligators. As the size of an alligator increases, so does the size of prey that it can consume. Don't swim or play in the water between dusk and dawn in areas with alligators. Alligators normally are more active during the night and can mistake splashing noises for prey.

Yes, they can smell it! over a year ago.

One of the myths it laid to rest was "alligators are poor climbers." "They generally try to go under fences, but in a mad scramble, when trying to get over something, they can get over a fence or wall," retired trapper Gator Bill Robb told the newspaper, which is part of the USA TODAY Network.

Can alligators climb fences in Florida? ›

Florida alligators have been known to occasionally climb a fence, but now we know that they can also easily bust through one, like the Kool-Aid Man.

Answer and Explanation: Alligators could theoretically remain on land as long as they want. Alligators breathe air, and unlike amphibians, they do not have to keep their skin wet.

Just a terrifying reminder that you physically cannot out swim a crocodile even if you tried... You don't need to outrun the crocodile. Just other swimmers!

The average human can sprint at speeds of between 12 and 18 mph for short bursts. The fastest human ever recorded, Usain Bolt, can run at 27 mph. So on land, the average human could probably outrun an alligator or crocodile, so long as they are not within the alligator or crocodile's striking distance.

Alligators live about as long as humans and average 70 years, but can be 100 years old, if they can survive a difficult life which starts with biting and fighting that never ends.

Alligators can survive two to three years without eating. Alligators are one of the few reptiles today that care for their young. Alligators have vibration sensors on their skin that are extremely sensitive -- they can detect even the slightest vibration and get out of harm's way long before it arrives.

Not Only Do Alligators Run, They Also Climb

As if a running alligator wasn't impressive enough, these prehistoric powerhouses are also known to climb ladders, staircases, trees, and even fences! All they need is enough of an incline to pull themselves up.

Alligators range from central Texas eastward to North Carolina. Louisiana and Florida have the largest alligator populations—there are more than one million wild alligators in each state.

The eyes of the crocodilian are its most vulnerable part, and several croc-attack survivors have reported eye-gouging as their salvation. Attempt to gouge, kick, or poke the animal in the eye with your hands or whatever you can grab.

Alligators have a natural fear of humans, and usually begin a quick retreat when approached by people. If you have a close encounter with an alligator a few yards away, back away slowly. It is extremely rare for wild alligators to chase people, but they can run up to 35 miles per hour for short distances on land.

What animal eats crocodiles? ›

Big cats like leopards and panthers sometimes kill and eat these big reptiles. Large snakes can also do a lot of damage to alligators and crocodiles. There are countless videos showing snakes wrapped around gators and crocodiles.

People tend to think of crocs and alligators as stupid, but the intelligence and memory of these animals are underestimated. When alligators have been trained in captivity they're really smart and quick to learn.

Snails need moisture to survive; so if the weather is not cooperating, they can actually sleep up to three years.

Alligators only attack when threatened or cornered, but if a human is in water with alligators, it may entice them. "Splashing in the water will attract an alligators interest, and if it perceives at that point in time that there's something smaller and weaker in the water, it might attack it," Mazzoti said.