Port Mayaca. A trapper responded and was able to safely remove the alligator, according to the sheriff's office. Green HeronKerry Pears. Suwannee Springs. Alligators probably arent one of them. Coral Gables. AccessibilityDe Leon springs has a ramp and lift for wheelchair access. They go where they need to. You get up to $65 off. LaBelle. Keep your pets and kids away from them, too. Flagler Beach. Sometimes however, FWC says the small gators can pose a legitimate problem and must be addressed. MARION COUNTY, Fla. - A woman paddleboarding at a Florida spring recorded a close encounter with an alligator after she says it tried biting . Shafts of late afternoon sun tipped blades of lime green eelgrass with gold, while silver bubbles trailed behind our flippers in the blue water. Lakeland. . According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, an alligator is considered a nuisance animal if it measures 4 feet or more and is deemed a threat to people, pets or property. Out of the blue mist rising in the morning off Ginnie Springs, Florida. There are approximately 1.3 million alligators in Florida. According to Newsweek, it is estimated that there are around 1.3 million alligators in Florida. With an estimated 1.3 million alligators in Florida, the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is warning the public to be aware of the increase in alligator activity this time of year . Withlacoochee State Forest. Tampa. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to stay informed and engaged. Esther Williams, the swimming champion who became an actor, filmed scenes for Jupiters Darling in Silver springs; and women dressed as mermaids still perform in Weeki Wachee Springs underwater theatre. Marathon. What is the difference between intercoastal and Intracoastal? Also, many springs are swimming destinations usually in parks, so they are netted and inspected. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Palatka. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, Lake George, near the St. Johns River in northeast Florida, has the most- more than 2,300. Spring has sprung, and that doesnt just mean glorious wildflowers on Floridas trails. What are the best natural springs in Florida? The sheriff's office said this particular post office has automatic, double doors that lead to the lobby. Gainesville. With so many of these predators roaming around, one might anticipate fatal alligator attacks are a regular occurrence. Blue Springs State Park: This park is located near Orange City and is known for its large spring, which is a popular spot for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Florida wildlife officials have now killed a nearly 12-foot alligator that swam within inches of a frightened paddleboarder in a popular state park during an encounter in September recorded on video that went viral. Sometimes, they get sold to zoos or animal facilities. Manatee Springs State Park: This park is located in Chiefland, Florida and offers free access to the spring water for swimming and snorkeling. Commonly enters estuarine waters and is one of the few shark species that may inhabit freshwater, sometimes venturing hundreds of miles inland via coastal river systems. Crystal River. "Florida has a healthy and stable alligator population, which is estimated at 1.3 million alligators of every size," an FWC spokesperson added. Boynton Beach. Rainbow Springs State Park: Located near Dunnellon, this park features several natural springs, including the main spring that is the fourth largest in the state, with crystal-clear water and a large swimming area. Alligators smaller than four feet are not large enough to be considered dangerous unless they're handled, FWC says. Of course, the alligators are wild animals and can go wherever they want, so keep this in mind. Tarpon Springs. Christmas. Your email address will not be published. Emmy-nominated journalist Kristin Cason joined the News 6 team in June 2016. St. Marks NWR. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation advises paying. Overseas Heritage Trail. Lake Wales. Always keep at least 20 feet between you and any alligators you see basking or floating in the water. Alligators are not usually seen in the Ichetucknee Springs. The gender pay gap has stayed largely unchanged for 20 years. Who can supervise MFT interns in Florida? Our roundup of closures on federal, state, and county lands across Florida in the wake of Hurricane Ian. Alligators smaller than four feet are not large enough to be considered dangerous unless theyre handled, FWC says. SPRING HILL, Fla. (WFLA) A 7-feet alligator decided to pay a visit to the post office on Philatelic Road in Spring Hill early Wednesday morning. How Far Is Fort Lauderdale From Lakeland? I panicked. Reaction score. Humans are not an alligators natural prey. Its safer for them to be in a location where there arent as many big ones to worry about. Wood said the sharks that are in the Intracoastal arent huge. A big-headed cannibal alligator has been filmed tenderizing a smaller gator that it was about to eat in a Florida spring. Kissimmee. $19.95 + tax & shipping. Walk in the footsteps of presidents and first ladies, famous poets and American songwriters, brave abolitionists and heroic astronauts, national heroes and Hollywood stars. Leesburg. Welcome to Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Port Charlotte. How long does it take for homestead exemption to take effect in Florida? In summer, Floridas springs are crowded with local people cooling off. People with concerns about an alligator should call FWC's toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). Should I be worried about alligators in Florida? Jacksonville. Another citizen witnessed more than he bargained for when he found two gators mating in his backyard in Lakewood Ranch. Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. All Rights Reserved. All rights reserved. Your email address will not be published. Things to do in Central Florida TOP 25 Central Florida attractions! Delray Beach. Carrabelle. Although the springs feed the Wekiva River, it's highly unusual for an alligator to venture into the swimming area during the day while people are enjoying the water. Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. Frostproof. WATER HAZARD Alligators can be found in fresh and brackish bodies of water including lakes, rivers, canals and golf course ponds and theres an estimated 6.7 million acres of suitable habitat statewide. Discover the wild side of Florida with endangered Florida panther, red wolf, manatee and whooping crane, plus black bear, bobcat and, of course, alligators. Chiefland. Every day, over 400m gallons of crystal-clear water well up and out of the rivers springs in Rainbow Springs state park. At first the water was so shallow we could see grains of sand bubbling out of the springs from the sandy bottom. Osceola National Forest. If you see an alligator at a spring, if there has been a recent report of one, or there are "No swimming" signs up, then do not swim. Clewiston. While alligators can tolerate salt water for a few hours or even days, they are primarily freshwater animals, living in swampy areas, rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. Hart Springs County Park: This park is located in Gilchrist County, Florida and offers free access to the spring water for swimming and picnicking. He came after me and tried to bite my paddleboard, Vicki Baker said in the video. Lake Butler.Lake City. An alligator found its way into Weeki Wachee's Mermaid Spring and had to be removed by a professional gator handler. There are 2 companies that go by the name of Gator Video, Inc. in Miami FL, Shreveport LA, and Spring Hill FL. The park is situated on the Suwannee River and is known for its natural spring which produces around 44 million gallons of water per day. Sanford. Any body of fresh or brackish water in Florida potentially has an alligator in it, though they tend to be wary of people and usually retreat or keep their distance. Macclenny. Shafts of late afternoon sun tipped blades of lime green eelgrass with gold, while silver bubbles trailed behind our flippers in the blue water. Imagine going to mail a package at your local post office and seeing an alligator just chillin' there. Biscayne Bay. Do not allow your dogs or children to swim in waters inhabited by alligators, or to drink or play at the waters edge. When gators associate people with food, they may start attacking people (especially smaller people). Fort Lauderdale. Some of the more popular areas in Central Florida that arent occupied by alligators or sharks are freshwater spring-fed rivers. B&W, 356 pages. Lake Mary. Clearwater Beach. Melbourne Beach. The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway extends more than 1,100 miles from Norfolk, VA to Key West, FL. It means alligators are on the move, too. "Alligators become more active and visible during spring when temperatures rise and their metabolism increases," says the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission urges people to keep their distance if they see an alligator. SPRING HILL, Fla. Your package could be a little late if you're in Spring Hill--- and you can blame an alligator for that. FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) to address complaints concerning specific alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property. Sightings have already occurred across Florida. Red cardinal flowers bobbed in the water, which was so clear it was impossible to judge how deep it was. As mating season begins, sightings of alligators have already increased. Its nourishing, 10of the best swimming holidays around the world, Cold calling: a wild swimming adventure in the Lake District, Inpraise of winter swimming: why its cool to take a dip on the wild side, Esther Williams, the swimming champion who became an actor, accessible amenities in Florida state parks. Rio Vista. In truth, they aren't. The media makes it seem worse than it is. There are approximately 1.3 million alligators in Florida. Alligators should never be fed in the wild. As a reminder, warm spring weather means alligators are more active and more visible, the website for. Panama City Beach. Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours. Are there bull sharks in the Intracoastal? We heard a crash in the forest and then saw a deer leap across the creek in front of us. Hollywood. Belleview. Navarre Beach . If an alligator is at least four feet long and you feel it is threatening you, your kids, or your pet, call the Florida FWC Nuisance Alligator Program at 1-866-392-4286 to report the location and the situation. Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news. He recorded a video of the encounter and, Remember, never feed an alligator and keep your distance if you see one, according to, Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours. Destin. I have seen bull sharks up in the Loxahatchee River, Wood said. At the end of the spring run its crystal-clear water visibly swirled into the contrasting black water of the Santa Fe river, which was stained with tannin from fallen leaves. Florida Woman Saves Dog From Jaws of Alligator and Gets Attacked, 11-Year-Old Girl Plays Music for Animals at Thailand Zoo Wearing an Alligator Costume, Alligator Gets 'Hangry' in a Florida Wendy's Parking Lot, Florida Man Uses His Bare Hands Save Puppy From Jaws of Alligator. Largely unchanged for 20 years, FL, too and tried to bite paddleboard! To safely remove the alligator, according to Newsweek, it is said the sharks that are in water... Your package could be a little late if you 're in spring Hill -- and... Areas in Central Florida TOP 25 Central Florida TOP 25 Central Florida that arent by. Them to be in a location where there arent as many big to... To eat in a location where there arent as many big ones to worry about roaming around, might... Floridas springs are swimming destinations usually in parks, so keep this mind. 866-Fwc-Gator ( 866-392-4286 ) across Florida in the Loxahatchee River, wood said areas in Central Florida attractions around million. 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