Home > Blogs > Katerina Gasset > Get It Done For Me Virtual Services, UTAH REALTOR

Alligators Are A Part Of The Florida Landscape

By Katerina Gasset

Real Estate Agent with The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services 13253167-SA00

May 30, 2011 02:58 PM

Alligators are a part of the Florida landscape. If you live in Florida or you are moving to Florida you should learn about Alligators.

We stayed at the Gaylord Hotel in Kissimmee since last Thursday until tonight for the Florida FPEA Homeschool Convention. The Gaylord is a very stunning hotel divided up into three distinct parts of what makes Florida famous and great, showing great diversity in landscape and environment.

In the Everglade section there is a baby Alligator exhibit. The trainers from Gatorland come over to the hotel and feed the baby Alligators three times a week. In the wild they do not need to eat so much. In fact, Alligators only have to eat six to seven times in a year.

What is really interesting in this exhibit is that the baby and adult turtles are soaking up the sun right along with the Alligators.

In fact, they are sleeping on one another. The Alligators are not hungry so they don't bother the turtles they share their habitat here with. However, in the wild this would not be the case. These baby Alligators will not go into the wild. When they get bigger they will go over to Gatorland.

This is because humans are feeding the Alligators.

You never want to feed a wild Alligator.

It is against the law here in Florida to feed wild Alligators. Never feed Alligators. They lose their fear of humans when you feed them. Their brains are the size of lima beans and they are purely instinctive. The don't use their brains to decide whether you are food or not. We are their natural enemy and we want to keep it that way! Tragedies involving Alligators who have been fed are in the news. They have eaten pet dogs and children. Not only that, you are just inviting the Alligator to get killed because a menacing Alligator will get shot. As homes get built closer to the Everglades there have been instances where the Alligator has made its' way up a canal and into the backyard swimming pool of residents.

Never trust an Alligator. Never assume that you are going to become friends with an Alligator.

Florida Alligators grow about one foot per year while they are young and will grow to be 6 to 12 feet long in most cases. The largest Florida Alligator spotted was over 17 feet long.

All Florida fresh waters from lakes to canals and rivers have Alligators. There are no exceptions to this statement. Now, there are many brave souls like Broker Bryant who will swim in the lakes but that is not something I will ever do.

Once upon a time the Florida Alligator was on the brink of extension. But laws to protect the Alligator were put into effect and now there are over 1 million Alligators in the state of Florida with a people population of 17 million.

If you see an Alligator in your back yard or in a canal nearby the best thing to do is to leave it alone, go inside, stay inside and wait for the Alligator to leave. If you think he is over 7 feet long you can call the wildlife department but just know they usually will not come out to take the Alligator away if he is smaller than 7 feet.

Here is a short video I took of the Alligator feeding at the Gaylord Hotel. It was super crowded and I could not get super close ups but I did get the little guys climbing out of the water to go get their food.

Re-Blog

Comments(14)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL

Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

katerina - whilein Palm Coast I remember that when you get to an vacan canalfront lot, you could here a splash. An alligator would slide into the water.

I have been here for 16 years, and seeing them in nature is extraordinary rare. I have see them only twice.

May 30, 2011 03:10 PM

Eileen Hsu

Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Manhattan, NY

LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

Morgan loves to watch Swamp People when we are home. I don't think I have seen alligator in person ever.

May 30, 2011 03:14 PM

Nor Yeretsian

Envoy Capitol Realty Inc. - Toronto, ON

Envoy Capitol Realty Inc., Brokerage Toronto

Good post, Nestor.

Interesting challenge these alligators, what could you do if you meet one or more in nature ?

Do you run ( really really fast ) , what's the best defence?

cheers

Nor

May 30, 2011 03:19 PM

Joan Whitebook

BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH

Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Thanks for this very informative post. I must admit I do not know about alligators. This is great information.

May 30, 2011 03:40 PM

J. Philip Faranda

Howard Hanna Rand Realty - Yorktown Heights, NY

Associate Broker / Office Manager

I feel like clicking my heels together and saying "there's no place like New York...There's no place like New York." We have none of these critters, thank goodness.

May 30, 2011 04:08 PM

Carol Culkin

Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS

Overland Park Residential Real Estate

They are amazing and yet deadly creatures. The Everglades tour is very fascinating. But, once was enough for me!

May 30, 2011 04:18 PM

Christine Hooks

Pino Agency - Pennsville, NJ

Celebrating 25 Years in Real Estate!

I would really freak out if I saw an alligator in my back yard....since I live in NJ. I know FL has superior weather most of the time, but I'm sooooo glad we don't have gators in our backyards!

May 30, 2011 04:29 PM

Katerina Gasset

The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT

Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

Jon- On my way to Space Coast- to watch the Shuttle and go to the Kennedy Space Center all along the highway on the way there from Orlando we can see hundreds of them bathing in the sun. :)

May 30, 2011 05:05 PM

Fred Carver Real Estate Consulant

Retired BC Realtor - Victoria, BC

Accredited Real Estate Consultant

Hi Katerina...no Gators here..Great information for a unknowing person like me. I certainly won't be swimming in any water in Florida. Maybe ask Broker Bryant to show us how he feeds them ...haa

May 30, 2011 05:48 PM

Jim Hale

ACTIONAGENTS.NET - Eugene, OR

Eugene Oregon's Best Home Search Website

Let me see if I've got this right: if the Gator is less than 7 feet tall....well, just wrestle him yourself.

May 30, 2011 09:02 PM

Susan Neal

RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA

Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Hi Katerina - Very interesting! While we don't have alligators here in Fair Oaks CA, we do have plenty of critters who get spoiled after being fed by people. I have heard of raccoons tearing roofs apart to get into the house of someone who suddenly stopped daily feedings. They didn't mean harm but were simply trying to get to where they knew the food was kept. We feed plenty of critters, but not so much that they are completely dependent on us. And our local critters aren't maneaters!

Jun 01, 2011 05:03 AM

Susan, feeding wild animals is not a good thing. We have tons of raccoons here too. We also have lots of squirrels. Both of these carry rabies. You don' t know if one of coming up to you to get food or to bite you. Not a good scene at all. Katerina

Jun 01, 2011 07:15 AM

Carol- once was enough for me too:)

Terri Poehler

Realtor - Coral Springs, FL

Coral Springs Real Estate Agent

They are very fascinating. But deadly. The first time I saw one take the fish off my sons fishing line, I was amazed. But I still kept my distance. Thank you for this. Quite interesting.

Jun 01, 2011 09:36 AM

Alligators Are A Part Of The Florida Landscape

Comments(14)

Katerina Gasset

Service Areas

Real Estate Resources

Recent Posts

Popular Posts