The Alligator in the Kitchen: When You Live in Florida You Coexist with Alligators
When she went to investigate, she saw an 8 foot, 200 pound alligator on her kitchen floor.
The giant reptile had broken through the back porch screen probably after following Ms. Frosti’s cat home.
Ms. Frosti quickly exited the area and dialed 911.
Within minutes deputies and trappers arrived. They removed the alligator after taking out a sliding glass door.
No one was injured including the cat. When an alligator is a safety hazard – it is called a nuisance alligator and is taken away and destroyed.
Alligators are thought to have survived since prehistoric times. They occur anywhere there is water: lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, swamps, and man made canals.
They are important to ecology, both as predators and because of the “gator holes” they dig in ponds that hold water during the dry season.
Because of Florida’s huge land development displacing these reptiles; people and alligators often cross paths.
In the spring, warm weather and the dry season bring alligators out of their winter semi-retirement. After wintering the chilly months with little movement they are full of energy. They might move through sub-divisions at night, looking for deeper ponds, new mates, or a tasty snack like Ms. Frosti’s cat.
They move from one body of water to another. When they land in someone’s pool, they get into trouble.
Most alligators on land will move away from people. Alligators usually feed in water and ambush prey from the water’s edge. They are shy!
But some alligators associate people with food. The stupidest thing one can do is to throw food scraps to an alligator. Never feed an alligator (no matter how small or cute it is). An alligator will regard you and humans as a food source.
Since moving to Florida, I have experienced two encounters with alligators in my neighborhood.
The first was an early morning wake up call that there was an alligator under the car.
The second occurred a few months later. When about 1 AM one night, my next door neighbor heard banging at his front door. When he looked out, he saw an alligator on his front steps.
In the excitement, the alligator fled to my shrubbery and had to be removed.
In both instances the alligators were taken away by trappers and then destroyed.
I’m sure not living in Boston anymore; but it is sad when these magnificent reptiles have to be killed.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife listed alligators as a threatened species; but when the alligators reproduced in large numbers there was concern for the public safety. The alligators are allowed to be killed legally if they are a threat to people, property or pets. (The law uses the word harvested rather than killed).
The Statewide Nuisance Alligator Project strives to reduce the threat from alligators in developed areas, while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur.
Trappers must be licensed and apply for permits: for information call 1-866-FWC-gator.
Usually alligators and Floridians co-exist peacefully, but recorded fatalities and attacks do occur. Usually, because the victims were in the alligator’s habitat – either in the water or by the water.
Alligators can be found in the tiniest ponds, even those on golf courses. Clueless golfers get into trouble retrieving their golf balls.
Pets that swim in the fresh water or go near the water’s edge get eaten. (Ms. Frosti’s cat was probably hanging around the shoreline when the alligator followed it home.)
Never feed alligators. Keep children, pets, and people out of and away from the water.
To keep alligators out of your backyard, and to keep pets safe, install fences at least 4.5 feet tall.
Finally, if you live near water (and most of us do) don’t walk around in the dark, especially during the spring.
Still want to move to Florida???
Sources
TBO News
Living with Alligators, UF Extension
Learn to Live with Alligators, Naples News
