Alligators are wonderful, if often misunderstood and abused animals. They are holdovers from prehistoric times that have managed to adapt and survive in an environment that can be hostile. There are certain expectations that the average human should have and rules to follow when near them, however.
Strange Alligator Behaviors
American alligators have been known to climb all kinds of things, from trees to garage doors. When this happens, they are almost always confused. This activity is not a normal one. Alligators prefer laying alongside sunny banks of water to warm their cold-blooded bodies. Fish, birds and turtles are their dominant diet as they are primarily an aquatic animal.
When you see an alligator lying in the sun with its bottom jaw hanging down and looking very menacing, remember that it is probably just relaxing. The jaws are bone-crushingly strong when they close, but interestingly, these giant lizards have no muscles to open their mouths. Animal Control will commonly use simple duct-tape to hold an alligator's mouth shut when moving it, thereby reducing the danger to those around the animal.
Alligators will use their tails to swim, roll over underwater to tear off chunks of meat from larger prey, or even to help balance when on all fours on land. It also happens to be pretty tasty, if you are not kosher.
Many an enthusiastic tour guide has said that the American Alligator can easily outrun a human. More responsible guides say they are not capable of maintaining such a pace drop off quickly. Contradicting this, however, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission states on their website Alligator FAQ, "We know of no one who has measured the ground speed of alligators."
Why Alligators Attack Humans
Wildlife biologists agree that alligators are rarely aggressive towards humans, generally preferring their own solitude. Alligators have never been shown to actively hunt humans on land. Sadly, this relative of the crocodile has been known to mistake a baby or young child playing near a lakeside for food. This can happen when the animal has been trained to associate humans with food, by humans who feed them.
According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Fishing and Boating Regulations brochure, "Alligators when fed will lose their natural fear of humans and become attracted to people. Alligators that have been fed may be more likely to attack, and must be destroyed."
It is illegal in the State of Florida to feed an alligator under any circumstances. Ignorant people have used hamburgers and chickens to entice these large, wild creatures to feed so they can take pictures to put in the family album, or on Facebook, or even just show off to their friends how brave they are. Some people even harm alligators, to provoke them into attacking. Be safe - do not feed or molest the wildlife.
Some of the more daring residents in Florida keep alligators as pets. This is not only illegal, but it is also a very dangerous practice and should not be done. American Alligators cannot be tamed or domesticated. Even if the owner is able to keep a baby successfully for a while, moving it from a small tank to a larger tank and then to a tub, the fact of the matter is that every time the owner feeds that animal, the animal is learning to associate the sight, sounds and smell of humans with food. Eventually, that alligator is going to make it into the wild because they just get too big to keep privately. When that animal is released, it is going to seek the most readily available and familiar source of food – people, even if they are not the original owner.
Avoid Alligator Attacks
If you live near freshwater, even a golf course with a water hazard, you may end up with an exceptionally large, fast and agile lizard in your yard at some point. If you do happen to see one, move away from the water, bring your children inside the house, leave it alone, give it several hours to leave and if it comes back frequently, call Animal Control for help in destroying it safely.
A word of caution applies here. If an alligator strikes at your dog or cat, don't even try to save your pet. Although painful to see and hear, it is much less difficult than recuperating in a hospital after the carnivore decided to defend its meal.
The bottom line is simple: be safe, not sorry. If you find that an alligator has crept up near you, leave the area by walking away quickly away from water. Do not play near freshwater alone and always keep a wary eye out. Give these grand creatures the respect they deserve.
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