- James Branman for VISIT FLORIDA Everglades National Park How can you see alligators in the Everglades? And hey, as long as youre not the slowest swimmer in the group, you have nothing to worry about. Urban alligators seem to be a rarity and a new study by a University of North Florida professor and graduate student tracked the number of alligators in the citys tributaries. Crocodiles have a more pointed nose, and their teeth are visible when they close their mouth. Edgewater, Florida is a small town on Indian River lagoon south of New Smyna Beach. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, Lake George, near the St. Johns River in northeast Florida, has the most-- more than 2,300. Good morning Mike and Cindy. This brackish water environment is one of the best ways to see wild alligators in their natural home. Both alligators and crocodiles will eat fruit, and even veggies, when available. or take aguided kayak tour with The Paddling Center on Shingle Creek. She's based in her hometown, Jacksonville, Fla. specific permit from Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, guided kayak tour with The Paddling Center on Shingle Creek. It has 24 species of crocodilians, including Maximo, a giant crocodile. Alligators inhabit all 67 counties in Florida and its common to see them here on the banks of the St. Johns River too. Myakka River State Park. Remember: you are not Steve Irwin. American Alligators in Florida are surprisingly benign if you follow these rules and steer clear of each other. How do you stay safe from alligators in Florida? Some of the more popular areas in Central Florida that arent occupied by alligators or sharks are freshwater spring-fed rivers. If you tread on one in the dark, well, yes, they may attack. It is a refuge for rescued birds and reptiles who are given a home in the tropical settings of banyan trees and other botanical tropical plants. The further south you go, the more likely youll catch a glimpse of a gator baking in the sun on the banks of a canal or even just lounging on the side of I-95. They try to capture it and take it back to the wild, but sometimes it is killed. Zigzag or run in a straight line but dont worry too much about that. Keep your eyes peeled for alligators, especially moms and babies. Here are some of the best places to see alligators in Florida: The Shark Valley entrance to Everglades National Park is on U.S. 41 Tamiami Trail in Miami, and you're sure to see an abundance of alligators there. In fact, Jacksonvilles best beaches offer a ton of space to sprawl and little competition for the best spot. Best place in Florida to see alligators. One place that offers an airboat trip on Lake Jesup is Black Hammock Fish Camp at 407-807-6623. Even Jacksonville's famous Bay Street, once dubbed Alligator Alley, featured baby alligators for sale in the early 1950s. It is surprising to most people when an alligator is spotted on the streets, or on a golf course in Jacksonville, but it is something people who live there are accustomed to. Tune in to #GMJ. It goes without saying that feeding an alligator is a bad idea. Billie Swamp Safari in Clewiston, north of Alligator Alley, has swamp buggy tours and airboat rides, plus a twilight expedition. Rosenblatt says development is also scaring the gators away. Alligator Species in Jacksonville Alligators in the Jacksonville, FL area are American Alligators, a species that lives in coastal areas from Texas to Virginia. - If you live in Central Florida, alligators can show up anytime, anywhere. and Jacksonville real estate Winter is the best season for alligator watching, mostly because they come out of the cooler water to catch the warm rays. One of their most popular events is the Gatorama Annual Hatching. This is a unique opportunity to hold an alligator egg as it is hatching. Buyers, get information on how to take advantage of one of the best buyers markets ever, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty, Selling Your Condo in Florida? The park consists of 37,000 acres of unspoiled wetlands, wildflower-strewn prairies, and pinelands. In the early 80s, their population had recovered to the point that they were no longer endangered. Look for gators in the lakes and canals. Alligators in the Jacksonville, FL area are American Alligators, a species that lives in coastal areas from Texas to Virginia. American Alligators can live 30-50 years in the wild. Youre almost guaranteed to see gators! Powered byReggio Digital Studio. It's not all that surprising, given how well-kept the waters are. Pricing and marketing are the name of the game today. Then theres the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, where brave souls can zip line over alligators and crocodiles, andGatorama in Palmdale, east of Lake Okeechobee. Hunting and trading in alligator hides and meat slowed down to a trickle and the animals have made an amazing recovery. The refuge is open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year. Alligators are one of the most iconic animals in the United States and are one of the main attractions in Florida. The state is trying to manage the population through hunts. Alligator found under truck at AutoZone on Beach Blvd. Alligators inhabit all 67 counties in Florida and it's common to see them here on the banks of the St. Johns River too. If you go far upriver enough you will encounter alligators, so care needs to be taken. Crocodiles have a set of 66 teeth, while alligators teeth seem less organized and there are about 80 of them. Everglades City also has many places where you can get private airboat rides that will take you through alligator habitat. It is estimated that Lake Jesup is home to 13,000 alligators. Trips Alerts Sign in. It is one of the smallest of its kind. Gators love to eat dogs. Augustine, FL 32080Tel: 904-824-3337. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Gator mating season is here and as we told you, the alligators are finding themselves in places where people hang out. Loved the video - and your photos were beautiful. Missing 2.5-year-old drowned in pond, Jacksonville police say, Jacksonville Fire officials warn against outdoor burning due to wind speeds, Local Weather: Warm winds Friday ahead of showers late Friday night - Saturday morning, Jacksonville Science Festival returns to the First Coast, Rare albino alligator babies hatch at Florida attraction, 'I ripped my arm out of his teeth': St. Augustine Alligator Farm curator describes attack by alligator. Homes for sale in Jacksonville Florida Mike & Cindy Jones, Jacksonville Realtors 904 874-0422 MikeAndCindyJones.com Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty Like favorite_border favorite_border 2 If you see other locals and their pups swimming, then chances are youre ok. Alligators regularly hold their breath for 30-60 minutes, but can stay submerged up to 24 hours if need be. It has St. Johns River, and a lot of ponds and lakes, all of which are areas that alligators like. As a rule, alligators are very shy and avoid human interaction as much as possible. Seeing gators on the states lakes is most likely the experience of fishermen who are on the hunt for bass and sunfish. Wow, fortunately we do not see many here in Phoenix, just rattlesnakes. There are plenty of gators in the river, which runs through 57 square miles, but the truly adventurous take the easy five-mile round trip hike to Deep Hole, a sinkhole on the edge of the river that attracts dozens of gators. You will almost always see alligators on one of these tours. This means the only surviving Archosaurs are the croc family and the birds. 14501 S. Orange Blossom TrailOrlando, FL 32837Tel: 407-855-5496. They put on alligator shows, offer airboat tours, and alligator feeding demonstrations. Alligators fiercely protect their young and a tiny kayak or stand-up paddle board is no match for a big mad mama gator. "When you see water, assume an alligator could be in it," officials from the base warned. That might quality for an only in Florida label. Its far better to be on dry land gators can run quite fast, but not for too long. Can you swim in the Jacksonville beaches? (And maybe for you). Follow directions on signs. They copied alligator farm in st augie. Polk County deputies were called to deal with a 10-foot, 700-pound alligator wrestling with itself near a middle school. Alligators are no strangers to cannibalism. The Florida record for length is just over 14 feet for a male alligator found near Jacksonville. This suggests to us that alligators dont really like being in a human-dominated landscape," Rosenblatt explains. Dogs are a much easier target for alligators than humans, as they resemble the prey they stalk on the banks. Crocodiles are fine in either environment. Lakes abound and rivers run through the forest, giving alligators plenty of spots to do their thing. In general, as long as you stay clear of them and don't go swimming in their home or get close to their nests, you should be fine. They may be big, but they're surprisingly agile creatures. Austin Hyatt shared video and a photo of this approximately 4-5 foot alligator. Lots of golfers start or end their round of miniature golf by feeding the alligators. There are no crocodiles that we know of in Jacksonville. Here, you can take tram tours and rent bicycles to ride on the paths. Along the way it widens out into several lakes. Florida television station WJAX-TV in Jacksonville on Sunday posted a video of a large gator climbing over a fence at Naval Air . The tail length is roughly half of their overall length. At Doctors Lake in Clay County along the 11 miles surveyed, FWC estimated 70 alligators live in those. 297 128. Baby alligators, in particular, are the most at risk. 15 Things You Didnt Know About Alligators In Florida. In 1973 the Endangered Species Act outlawed alligator hunting. So, if you're planning a move to Jacksonville, Florida, be sure to watch this video and let us help you conquer your alligator anxiety! In the days before the attack, six alligators were removed, and in the days after, five more were removed. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Ride bikes on paths or walk over boardwalks and youre sure to see a few gators, especially if you paddle the river in canoe or kayak. A tram tour will take you there and you will probably see alligators along the way. A no no is DO NOT TAKE DOGS WHILE FISHING, or let them swim in the water. Florida's first Black millionaire, Abraham Lincoln Lewis, purchased 200 acres . They can be found roaming pretty much all over the state. So we thought we'd share a few.