With Florida’s summer heat increasing alligator activity, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is urging residents and visitors to “Be GatorWise.”
This new public awareness campaign aims to foster realistic perceptions about alligators and provide practical advice to minimize human-alligator conflicts.
GatorWise, a collaborative effort that incorporates information from 11 state wildlife agencies across the American alligator’s range, emphasizes the shared responsibility of coexisting with these native reptiles.
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“Florida has seen tremendous population growth in recent years, with many people living or recreating near water,” stated Matthew Nichols, FWC Alligator Management Program Coordinator. “Because alligators can be found in nearly any waterbody in Florida, it’s safest to always assume they’re present. GatorWise provides consistent, science-based information from across the Southeast to help people safely share the landscape with these important animals.”
Florida is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators, which are crucial to the health of the state’s freshwater wetlands, helping to maintain balance within aquatic animal populations.
To reduce the likelihood of conflicts, the FWC highlights several key safety measures:
- Never feed or approach alligators. Feeding alligators can make them lose their natural fear of humans and associate people with food.
- Properly dispose of fish scraps. Discarding fish scraps in or near water can attract alligators.
- Keep pets away from the water’s edge. Pets can be perceived as easy prey by alligators.
- Supervise small children closely near water. Young children are especially vulnerable to alligator attacks.
- Maintain a safe distance if an alligator is spotted. Observe alligators from afar and do not attempt to interact with them.
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For more comprehensive information on how to be GatorWise and safely coexist with alligators, the FWC encourages everyone to visit GatorWise.org.
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