The alligators are one of the main attractions in the region of southwestern Florida. They are cunning creatures who are expert hunters. We mentioned in the last article how ferocious the gators were, but this is only true to their prey. Statistically speaking, gators very rarely attack humans. If anything, it’s us who are more of a threat to them than they to us. The expanding industrialization of the region has more or less placed them in threatened conditions.
Gators live both in salt and fresh waters, including streams and lakes their usual places of habitation. There’s more than 6 million acres of land that are conducive for gators all around Florida. Bites and non-fatal attacks from gators usually happen around or in water, since these creatures can’t catch their prey on land very well. The bites are generally caused by them being provoked by humans or being harassed by them. As industrialization expands the urban areas further, this would result in the destruction of the habitat of the alligators and this would also mean more contact between humans and alligators at one point or another, a scenario that would be troublesome for both species.
As mentioned, gator attacks are rare. There are only 23 deaths caused by gators since 1973 in the state of Florida and there are 383 bites caused by undue provocation and mishandling of the animal. Despite, or if not because of the low number of the attacks, this has not lessened human contact with them. Gators are being harvested for meat and hide and in 2014, garnered a net worth of $6 million in revenue. The harvesting of cultured and legally hunted gators is generally not frowned upon but the hunting of the wild gators is usually illegal, unless stated otherwise by the local government such as in hunting seasons.
Speaking of illegal, gators are known to be opportunistic feeders and they will eat pretty much anything that they can undoubtedly overwhelm and that is accessible around them such as snakes, turtles, birds, fishes and some mammals. It’s not lawful to give food to the wild alligators since that will make them more accustomed to people. It is best to have them kept in their wild state so they can live with little to no influence of humans so the gators can live out their lives in the most natural way possible.
If you want to learn more about gators and the importance of their impact to the natural environment at large, visit any of the wildlife centers in Naples, Everglades and Marco Island to get information about alligators and other wildlife that thrive in the region. Do not forget to get into the Business Directory section of Divine Naples so we can point you to the best locations in the region and see our Tourist Guide section so you will be informed on where to go and what to do when you get there. If you’re looking for things other than gators, the region can surely accommodate you as well so, come on down to the Paradise Coast.
