They show up in all 67 Florida counties and an old saying in Florida is that if you have a pond, lake, stream, or swamp, you will have alligators. Feeding them makes them associate people with food, and they will start expecting it when they see a person. One of their most popular events is the Gatorama Annual Hatching. You can enjoy animal encounters and alligator shows. Also avoid throwing fish scraps in the water when you clean your fish, as this, in essence, is also feeding the alligators. Here are some that I think you will enjoy. The headwaters of the Florida Everglades begin at Shingle Creek near Kissimmee, Florida, flowing through Lake Tohopekaliga (nicknamed Lake Toho) and past bald eagles, osprey, herons, deer and of course, the American Alligator. Minnesota calls itself the land of lakes with its 10,000 watery holes, but Florida has about 30,000. Dont throw Cheetos at it. According to Newsweek, it is estimated that there are around 1.3 million alligators in Florida. Gators love to eat dogs. All rights reserved. This suggests to us that alligators dont really like being in a human-dominated landscape," Rosenblatt explains. Lakes abound and rivers run through the forest, giving alligators plenty of spots to do their thing. RELATED: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Loch Ness Monster. Alligator Attacks in Florida There's good news and bad news. Of the 1.3 million alligators in Florida, more than 200,000 of them live in the Florida Everglades. What Is The Population Of Jacksonville Fl. If it doesnt go badly for you, its very likely that interaction will train the gator to seek out humans for food in the future. It teaches them to lose their natural fear of people. Good morning Mike and Cindy. You can hop on an airboat atBoggy Creek Airboat Adventures(watch us do it!) Mother alligators will fiercely defend their young, so it is dangerous to be around one. Dont get in the water if you see alligators. You will almost always see alligators either swimming slowly by or basking in the sun beside the warm water on sunny days. Rather than being predetermined by DNA, the temperature of an egg before it's hatched is a determining factor in its gender. Keep an eye on your pets. In Florida, youre more likely to be struck by lightning than to be attacked by an alligator. During the summer months, alligators have their nesting periods, placing nests around the edges of ponds. Lake Jesup is one of the best places to see alligators in Florida because it has one of the highest concentrations of alligators in Florida. More like to encounter a University of Florida Gator. 14501 S. Orange Blossom TrailOrlando, FL 32837Tel: 407-855-5496. Female alligators deposit their eggs in late June or early July. An elevated one-mile walkway guides visitors through Sawgrass Lake Park, a natural oasis in densely populated Pinellas County in St. Petersburg. In fact, Jacksonville's best beaches offer a ton of space to sprawl and little competition for the best spot. The crocodile has the strongest bite of any creature in the world and can bite with the force of 4,000 pounds per square inch. If you're interested in winning an entry into the Alligator Farm's Raptor Run 3k, head here:, Haha hot dogs! If an alligator clocks you and you can see it moving toward you, get out of there as fast as you can. Alligators sort of keep everything in check," Rosenblatt said. Florida's first Black millionaire, Abraham Lincoln Lewis, purchased 200 acres . This was our second time in St. Augustine and I wanted so bad to do a ghost tour. Buyers, get information on how to take advantage of one of the best buyers markets ever, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty, Selling Your Condo in Florida? There are plenty of gators in the river, which runs through 57 square miles, but the truly adventurous take the easy five-mile round trip hike to Deep Hole, a sinkhole on the edge of the river that attracts dozens of gators. Then theres the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, where brave souls can zip line over alligators and crocodiles, andGatorama in Palmdale, east of Lake Okeechobee. It has St. Johns River, and a lot of ponds and lakes, all of which are areas that alligators like. He is the largest animal in the attraction and is a salt water croc from. You can see hundreds of these creatures at St. Augustines Alligator Farm and Zolo. This historic attraction opened in 1893 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. There is a place on the lower lake called Deep Hole where an amazing number of alligators like to congregate. How do we fix this? At the end, theres a platform to observe and feed the reptiles. One such is Clark's Fish Camp on Julington Creek in Mandarin. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens 384 Zoos Botanical Gardens Northside "The also have a lot of reptiles. They are unlike any other reptile, and there are a great many of them out there. ago In the water -1 Dick_Miller138 8 mo. Alligators are part of the Crocodilian family, but there are several species of crocodile. This drive-thru park guides visitors in their cars through the park and past specially designed pools where about 400 gators swim and feed. Though sightings seldom are verified in this area, reports of panthers range from the rural parts of southern Clay County to the suburbs of Arlington in Jacksonville. Alligators are opportunistic feeders and look for prey that are easily accessible like turtles and birds. Pretty much if there is fresh or brackish water in Florida there are gonna be gators but the other comments have good spots, Julington Creek for sure. So we thought we'd share a few. Alligators are fascinating creatures, but that doesn't mean we'd be willing to get close to any of the million-plus living in Flordia right now. Bring binoculars. Did you know the word alligator is an anglicized form of el lagarto, the Spanish term for lizard, which the Spanish settlers in Florida called the alligator? Crocodiles have a set of 66 teeth, while alligators teeth seem less organized and there are about 80 of them. Once the juvenile alligators have hatched, they will be taken to their "nursery" for care and feeding. We got the snorkeling package sans the feeding. April through June is the mating season, and when alligators are most active and most aggressive. Today it functions as a modern zoo serving the public and the scientific community with educational shows and exhibits, important research and worldwide conservation efforts. Youll have plenty of opportunities to do all the things you love, including, swimming, surfing, beachcombing, shelling, fishing, and kayaking on the top beaches in Jacksonville. Can you swim in the Jacksonville beaches? Gators in captivity are the draw at several places around the state. A caveat to those who want to see gators in their natural habitats (and we are not talking football players at the University of Florida): Dont feed them. The pond connects to the river it's been there for years. Skip to main content. Alligators arent super particular about where they live, and Floridians know that any body of water in the Sunshine State is fair game, from brackish rivers to freshwater springs to the salty Atlantic Ocean to retention ponds in parking lots and even swimming pools on occasion. Winter is the best season for alligator watching, mostly because they come out of the cooler water to catch the warm rays. . Look for gators in the lakes and canals. Someone caught this animal climbing the fence at the naval air station in the city, and, no, we didn't know. Austin tells us the gator walked quite a ways from the pond to cross a street and get some shade under a pick up truck. We'll cover everything from how to stay safe around alligators to where you're likely to encounter them in Jacksonville. Are alligators really in every body of water? at cafes or nearby restaurants. Everglades Holiday Park, a wildlife preserve and theme park on 29 acres near Fort Lauderdale, is home for Animal Planet's "Gator Boys" TV show, and features daily gator shows. Wow, fortunately we do not see many here in Phoenix, just rattlesnakes. Spring is breeding season and the low growls of amorous males fill the air. See the amazing views of Cypress Forests that fill the shallow waters and swamplands of the surrounding waterways. While Florida panthers mostly live in the southern part of the state, males are known to roam Northeast Florida and on occasion South Georgia. A visitor center will help you find the best places to spy the prehistoric beasts. The river is generally fine as long as you dont go too far out. How likely are you to be killed by an alligator. Alligators are apex predators, one that has popularized popular culture and frequently appears on the news, typically attached to a crazy story coming out of Florida. Let us count the ways. Trips Alerts Sign in. It is generally safe to swim in the waters around Jacksonville, but there are plenty of dangers to be aware of. More than 2,000 gators live at this farm. Alligators have webbed feet, which makes them better swimmers. Yikes. If you see a nuisance alligator, dont try to catch or remove the animal yourself. A no no is DO NOT TAKE DOGS WHILE FISHING, or let them swim in the water. Although many Floridians have learned to coexist with alligators, the potential for conflict always exists. We come across lots of weird and wonderful Florida facts. Most locals are aware of the alligators around and know how to steer clear of them. The refuge is open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year. The best place to see wildlife, including alligators, is the Black Point Wildlife Drive. Haha. Scientist Brian Switek stated that "crocodilians 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. Be mindful of where they are located at all times. There is the St. Johns River, the ocean, and some lakes around. 12 Things You Didnt Know About Alligators In Florida. A tram tour will take you there and you will probably see alligators along the way. Despite what the media and Lake Placid would have you believe, alligators are not naturally aggressive toward humans. Haven't been around much the last couple years. These are the ones you absolutely want to avoid and they could be the very aggressive gators the signs are warning you about. Create awareness of the possible presence of alligators in ponds and canals with these signs. Thanks for sharing. Gatorama is an iconic Florida roadside attraction that has been drawing gator-curious tourists since 1957. Tune in to #GMJ. This makes them more aggressive and more willing to approach people. Areas with the highest removals are in and around Tampa, Sarasota,. But Allogators and their croc relatives are Archosaurs - a clade that split off from lizards and other reptiles in the Late Permian. Call (941) 361-6511 for details. Usually, they scale fences because they're trying to get to a body of water, such as someone's swimming pool, but it's more proof that you always need to be aware of what is going on in your backyard. What are people saying about zoos in Jacksonville, FL? They put on alligator shows, offer airboat tours, and alligator feeding demonstrations. 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. Along the way it widens out into several lakes. 40001 State Road 9336Homestead, FL 33034Tel: 305-242-7700. To put that in perspective, a strong human bite would be around 160 pounds per square inch. With that being said, it's also a good idea to know as much about these powerful and ancient animals as possible - thus, our updated and informative list. LINKS TO WEBSITES OF PLACES IN THIS ARTICLE, Everglades National ParkHillsborough River State ParkMerritt Island National Wildlife RefugeMyakka River State ParkBlack Hammock Fish CampEverglades Alligator FarmEverglades Wonder GardensGatoramaGatorlandJungle AdventuresSt Augustine Alligator FarmClark's Fish CampFlorida Key Lime Pie Company. Baby alligators, in particular, are the most at risk. Yes, alligators can climb fences. Alligators can be found all over the southeast and as far west as Oklahoma/east Texas. A study by a university found a lot of smaller alligators in tributaries of the St Johns River in Jacksonville. Just like last week, there was an incident involving a massive alligator scaling a fence into a Navy base. Some other places you can access these places are at Old Florida Places on the St. Johns River. Climb the Shark Valley tower at the visitors center to get a birds-eye view of the amazing river of grass.. And hey, as long as youre not the slowest swimmer in the group, you have nothing to worry about. The eggs hatch around August and into September. Generations of Floridians and tourists have enjoyed this park. Everglades City also has many places where you can get private airboat rides that will take you through alligator habitat. They can live up to 70 years in captivity and up to 50 years in the wild. Gatorama is an iconic Florida roadside attraction that has been drawing gator-curious tourists since 1957. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do about an alligator that crawls into your house through the kitchen window. Random splashes and bubbles in the water - all the time. Best alligator farm near me in Jacksonville, Florida, St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, Win an entry into the St. Augustine Alligator Farm's Raptor Run 3k.