[Jo48]

This the the first Dry Season I have seen so many in January having lived here (Naples) almost ten years. My Snowbird Neighbors were outside yesterday taking pix of Mama and Baby Gator on the banks of our lake sunning themselves on the golf course. Has all the recording breaking rain in Dry Season increased them? Today I saw Daddy Gator swimming in the lake. Just his head alone above the water must have been about at least foot. Golfers were in an panic when they saw him.

He isn't going to attack you on the greens, especially when he is totally ignoring Egrets just a few feet from him.

If you are going to own, rent, or vacation in South Florida you need to learn to respect and live with the local wildlife. We are moving to the mountains up North. I fully expect to see deer and bears there. Learn to respect and welcome your wildlife neighbors wherever you live.

[Spring Hillian]

We see deer and bears here in Hernando County and Citrus County. Gators and Coyote are here as well.

But yes, we must respect our co inhabitants on our planet.

Originally Posted by Jo48

This the the first Dry Season I have seen so many in January having lived here (Naples) almost ten years. My Snowbird Neighbors were outside yesterday taking pix of Mama and Baby Gator on the banks of our lake sunning themselves on the golf course. Has all the recording breaking rain in Dry Season increased them? Today I saw Daddy Gator swimming in the lake. Just his head alone above the water must have been about at least foot. Golfers were in an panic when they saw him.

He isn't going to attack you on the greens, especially when he is totally ignoring Egrets just a few feet from him.

If you are going to own, rent, or vacation in South Florida you need to learn to respect and live with the local wildlife. We are moving to the mountains up North. I fully expect to see deer and bears there. Learn to respect and welcome your wildlife neighbors wherever you live.

[dothetwist]

This winter is far from 'dry' thanks to El Nino.

[jwolfer]

They will sun themselves in the "cold" remember Alligators are reptiles, cold blooded and the water is relatively cold not so much because of it being dry. Don't think that because they are still they wont attack if provoked or hungry. They will eat dogs( even big ones) so be careful walking near water with your dogs. A couple years ago a guy was jogging in a park in Jax, a gator came out of the lake and took his yellow lab. There are other similar stories from all over Florida.

One of my coworkers was fishing in his neighborhood retention pond a new resident from NJ thought the gators were decoration because they were so still.

Although gators are more apt to attack in mating season in the spring( April-May ). The males will be on the prowl and more aggressive. After the young hatch ( July-August) the mother alligator will defend her babies.

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw230

Good info from University of Florida on living with gators