Their habitat is fresh or brackish (combination of fresh and saltwater) waters. Be AWARE when you are in their natural habitat and be very alert to your surroundings. Letting your guard down may just lead to an attack.

Every summer emphasis is put on not leaving small children alone around pools. In that same respect, don't let small children near fresh or brackish waters by themselves - or at all.

The signs are often posted when there are medium to large alligators that could pose a threat. If there are no signs posted, but it's fresh or brackish waters, don't assume there aren't large alligators present. Do not swim in these areas or ignore posted signs. Remember large alligators can conceal themselves in shallow water.

Don't bother or throw objects at them. State law prohibits killing, harrassing, injuring or posession of alligators without a permit.

NEVER FEED ALLIGATORS!! They have a natural fear of humans. Feeding alligators takes away that fear and they might become more aggressive and more likely to attack humans. If you see an alligator that is swimming straight at you, leave as quickly as you can. Most likely they have interacted with humans and may be looking for you to feed them.

If you see people feeding alligators, please inform them of the law and what the possible consequences are when they feed alligators. It's important to educate people about these dangers.

Don't dispose of fish scraps in the water. Please use garbage cans at the boat ramps or fish camps. It is indirectly feeding them and though it may not be intentional, the effect as feeding them outright can happen.

Do not walk your pets, or allow them to play, swim or drink near the water's edge. Dogs closely resemble an alligator's natural prey.

Never remove an alligator from it's natural envirnoment or accept one as a pet. Even small gators can pack one heck of a bite. You're taking a chance of severe injury and it is illegal.

Take pictures and watch them only from a distance. If you want to see these magnificent animals up close, visit one of our many State Parks. Bring a flashlight for view of their eyeshine in the early evening. And of course there are many zoos, animal parks, farms and tourist destinations that will allow you to become really close to them.

If you are bitten, SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION. Even a small one could cause a big infection. Their mouths may contain bacteria and bites may result in infection.

ALLIGATOR FACTS

In the last 100 years of recordkeeping there have been only 30 confirmed deaths. Since 1948, there have only been 16 deaths.

Even though Florida's population has exploded expansively, the rate of alligator attacks remain the same. That means that either most alligators are retaining their natural fear of humans and/or humans are leaving them be and respecting them.

If left alone, most alligators will move away on their own. Being chased, having things thrown at them or being cornered will make them aggressive. When confronted, their "Flight or Fight" response will be to "Flight"...get out of there asap. If they can't, they will protect themselves aggressively. Like any other animal, only these are huge predators instead of say a cat or dog.

The largest alligator ever found was in the 19th century and it was 19 feet long. Usually males get no longer than 14 feet, and females 9-10 feet. They can weigh up to 1,000 pounds, though the weight of the average adult alligator is much less.

Juveniles are generally black with yellowish crossbands that fade away as they grow larger. When basking on land, adults appear a uniform dark grey or black

These apex predators go through an elaborate and romantic courtship display. They communicate with each other with head slaps against the water, loud growls and roars, referred to as bellows. They also produce sounds below our hearing. The only way we can tell if they are making theses sounds is to see the water around them vibrate. During courtship, there is a lot of delicate contact as well.

When ready to lay their eggs, females build a mound by digging a hole in vegetation. They lay their eggs inside the mound and cover them up. During incubation the vegetation decomposes, mantaining heat and moisture inside the nest. The female stays on or near the nest to protect it and she will do so aggressively.

When they hatch, the babies make a chirping sound. Mom hears them and digs them out, carrying them gently in her powerful jaws to the water. She will even help her young break out of shells. The clutch may winter with her, and she may watch over them, aggressively. When frightened or being threatened, the young will chirp in alarm, and Mom or another female may come to their aid in a full out attack charge.

Alligators can move rapidly in short bursts on land. In the water, they are very strong and silent swimmers. Their legs lay flush with their bodies as they use their extremely powerful tails for propulsion and they change direction by adjusting the position of their head in the water.

Depending on the time of year, alligators can spend several hours underwater. Or they will lay quietly without moving, with only their eyes and nostrils above water. While they are staying still, they can look like logs.

The muscles used to open their mouths are weak and can be pried open easily. However when an adult alligator bites down, it's with 2000 pounds of pressure per square inch.

Even though they have powerful tails, they mostly use their jaws and teeth for defense. A good tail whipping can easily knock you off your feet or throw you back. Because of the solid bones of their head and powerful neck muscles, they can inflict severe injury even when their jaws are tied shut by using their head as a club. They can injure you by a swing of their heads.

They are considered "ambush predators". They stay underwater, near the banks until they can reach their prey. Then they quickly lunge, grab their target and drag the prey underwater to drown it.

They are also known to eat carrion in the water.

They cannot chew their food. If they can't swallow their food whole, they will grab a chunk of flesh and rotate their bodies, or move their heads from side to side. Thus giving them a piece they can swallow. Alligators can eat in the water or on land.

Alligators and other crocodilians have been around since the time of the dinosaurs and haven't changed much since then.

A KEYSTONE SPECIES

Not only are alligators Florida's native apex predators, but they are a keystone species as well. A keystone species is a species that has a certain behavior that benefits other species and environments in their natural habitats. Without this keystone behavior, the envirnonment and the all the species in the area will be in peril.

American Alligators have the distinguised title of "Keeper of the 'Glades".

Gators will use their powerful feet, tail and snouts to dig a hole through all the muck. These holes will become small ponds that may span 20 feet or more. These ponds are referred to as alligator holes. During the dry season or times of droughts, fish, turtles and other aquatic animals live in these alligator holes. Other birds, terrestrial animals as well as plants have a source of water.

Plus, there is a "Web of Life" that exsists in these alligator holes. Periphyton (algae and other tiny organisms) grow and are eaten by aquatic insect larvae, tadpoles and small fish. These animals are eaten by larger fish, frogs. Those animals are eaten by even bigger fish, egrets and other birds, turtles, and small mammals - and even gators themselves.

Alligator eggs are an important source of food for mammals such as racoons. Hatchling and juvenile alligators are eaten by many birds, mammals, fish and reptiles, including other alligators.

Often these water holes supports a lush plant growth from the rotting plants and mud. If enough time goes by, the hole can be in the center of an island of trees.

When the rain returns and the drought is over, life that has beeen preserved by the gator hole becomes the beginning of repopulating the marshlands, with the alligator holes expanding with it. Rejuvenation of the marshlands occur, all because the alligator digs holes.

Alligators are not just viscious predators that attack and must be stopped at all costs. They are a VERY important part of Florida's ecological stability. With these safety tips, facts and plain old common sense and respect, man and alligator can continue to live side by side.