Florida is full of places to swim and the hot weather practically mandates getting in the water. The downside, of course, is alligators. Between 1948 and 2005, 17 alligator-related deaths were reported in the United States. So swimming with alligators is less risky than, for example, riding in a car, which claims 40,000 lives per year. But swimmers in Florida will want to use extra vigilance and stay safe.
When and Where to Swim
In Florida, an alligator may be lurking in any body of water, even if none were present yesterday. Remember they travel on land as well as in water, so they can easily move from one pond or lake to another. Still, it's best to swim only in areas designated for swimming, as alligators are less likely to be there. Alligators are nocturnal, so you want to leave the water before dusk falls. Stay away from vegetated shore lines and other vegetated areas. If you see an alligator on a bank, stay at least 15 feet away. Never walk between an alligator and the shoreline.
Children and Pets
Keep children and pets far away from alligators. Dogs are especially susceptible to alligator attacks. Smaller dogs are just the right size and they love to nose around bushes and drink from canals and lakes. It's better to leave dogs at home if you're traveling in alligator country. If you do bring a dog, don't allow it to roam free. Keep it on a leash and stay vigilant.
Alligators and Food
Never feed an alligator. According to Kent Vliet, an alligator biologist at the University of Florida, if people feed alligators, the alligators will lose their natural fear of people and associate them with food. He said that alligators also sometimes attack humans because they mistake them for smaller prey. He pointed out that alligators only see the part of the human which is on the surface of the water. An alligator bit Joseph Noling, a professor in Florida, when Noling was swimming in 5 feet of water. Noling said he thinks the alligator bit his shoulder because he mistook it for a duck.
When Gators Attack
If you see an alligator while swimming, remember the gator can swim faster than humans. If you get on land, you have a better chance of outdistancing the reptile. Vliet said that the strategy of zigzagging doesn't help and that it's best to run in a straight line. If you are in shallow water and the alligator attacks, stand up so you look bigger, repeatedly punch the alligator in the nose and scream. Don't waste your energy trying to pry their jaws apart.
Deadly but Crucial
While alligators may be very inconvenient for swimmers, they are crucial to Florida's ecosystem. Alligators build ponds or gator holes, which create habitats for various types of wildlife. These holes collect freshwater which act as reservoirs in the dry season. Alligators tend to their holes, keeping them free from sediment and vegetation which would deplete the water that other animals need. The old nests of alligators decay, creating fire-resistant peat. Much of the Everglades' high ground may be the result of long-term alligator activity.
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