Alligator Mating Season Has Begun In Florida

Author Mason Dixon

April 11th, 2022 3:13 PM

If you’re new to Florida, you may need to know this. Others may need a refresher. As the weather warms into spring, alligator mating season begins.

Alligators become more active with the warmer weather and their mating season runs from April until as late as June. They’ll also be found sunning themselves, warming their body temperature.

They are more aggressive during mating season so there are things you need to remember in case you may encounter an alligator.

If there’s a body of water nearby, it’s likely there will be alligators.

Keep your distance.

Never feed wild alligators. In fact, feeding them is illegal. Alligators naturally will avoid people, but feeding them teaches alligators to associate people with food.

Keep pets on leashes in areas where alligators might live and away from the water’s edge.

Some of these cuddly critters might be thinking that Andrew looks like a snack! (Photo Courtesy of Andrew M.)

[Source: ABC Action News]

HCSO’s 5 Tips If You Spot A Gator

• #5: Keep a safe distance.

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  Well, duh.

• #4: Keep your pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge.

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  We all remember that video that went viral last year of a guy wrestling a gator to save his pup. Could've been a nightmare.

• #3: Swim only in designated swimming areas during the daylight (gators are most active between dusk and dawn).

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  In other words, don't be this guy.
• #2: NEVER feed a gator.

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  ... or you might become the main course.

• #1: Call in the pros.

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  FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 𝟴𝟲𝟲-𝟯𝟵𝟮-𝟰𝟮𝟴𝟲.

• No Swimming

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  November 1966: Bikini-clad Melody May decides to heed the 'No Swimming' sign when she sees Coochie the resident alligator at Jungleland in Panama City, Florida. Over 14.5 feet long and more than 100 years old, Coochie is great favourite with visitors to Jungleland. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
• Alligator Trapper in Miami

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  MIAMI - JUNE 24: Todd Hardwick, a licensed nuisance alligator trapper, captures an alligator June 24, 2002 in Miami. During alligator mating season, from April to July, calls to trappers increase. Last year there were a record 16,749 complaints about alligators threatening people, pets or property. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin

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  SAN FRANCISCO - JUNE 26: ***EXCLUSIVE*** "The Crocodile Hunter", Steve Irwin, poses with a three foot long alligator at the San Francisco Zoo on June 26, 2002 in San Francisco, California. Irwin is on a 3-week tour to promote the release of his first feature film, "The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course" is due in theaters July 12th. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

• Alligator Found In Central Park

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  390936 07: Felix Ito Rodriquez shows off an alligator handling technique June 21, 2001 at the same Okalee Seminole Indian Village that Mike Bailey works at in Hollywood, Florida. Mike Bailey is in New York City to try and capture a 2-foot long alligator that has been spotted in a Central Park pond. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
• Ginn sur Mer Classic – Round 1

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  PALM COAST, FL - OCTOBER 30: An alligator suns on the bank of the 13th hole during the first round of the Ginn sur Mer Classic at the Conservatory Golf Club October 30, 2008 in Palm Coast, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

• Zurich Classic of New Orleans – Round Two

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  AVONDALE, LA - APRIL 25: Vijay Singh has a run in with a baby alligator while trying to take his shot on the 7th during Round Two of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana on April 25, 2014 in Avondale, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

• Alligator Trapper in Miami

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  MIAMI - JUNE 24: Todd Hardwick, a licensed nuisance alligator trapper, captures an alligator June 24, 2002 in Miami. During alligator mating season, from April to July, calls to trappers increase. Last year there were a record 16,749 complaints about alligators threatening people, pets or property. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
• Fatal Alligator Attacks Set New Record In Florida

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  MIAMI - MAY 17: Tom Batchelor puts his hand in the mouth of an alligator during a wildlife show at the Gator Park in the Florida Everglades May 17, 2006 in Miami-Dade County. There has been a record three deaths attributed to alligator attacks in Florida in the month of May. Tom blames the recent deaths on alligators that have become comfortable around human beings. "They lose their fear of man, associate man with food and eventually man becomes food", he said. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Fatal Alligator Attacks Set New Record In Florida

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  MIAMI - MAY 17: Tourists take pictures of a baby alligator at the Gator Park in the Florida Everglades May 17, 2006 in Miami-Dade County. There has been a record three deaths attributed to alligator attacks in Florida in the month of May. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Fatal Alligator Attacks Set New Record In Florida

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  MIAMI - MAY 17: An alligator is seen at the Gator Park in the Florida Everglades May 17, 2006 in Miami-Dade County. There has been a record three deaths attributed to alligator attacks in Florida in the month of May. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
• Fatal Alligator Attacks Set New Record In Florida

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  MIAMI - MAY 17: An alligator is seen at the Gator Park in the Florida Everglades May 17, 2006 in Miami-Dade County. There has been a record three deaths attributed to alligator attacks in Florida in the month of May. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Florida Alligators

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  371736 04: An alligator wrestler pleases the crowd June 24, 2000 at "Gator Land's" main attraction in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Robert King/Newsmakers)

• PGA TOUR – 2004 The Players Championship – Third Round

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  A Florida alligator watches the action from the ninth fairway during third-round play at the PGA Tour's Players Championship March 27, 2004. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/WireImage) *** Local Caption ***
• Congress Debates Everglades Restoration In Face Of Bush Veto Threat

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  EVERGLADES, FL - SEPTEMBER 12: An alligator lays on the bank of a pond in the Florida Everglades September 12, 2007 in the Everglades National Park, Florida. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) recently accused the White House of playing politics at the expense of the Everglades with two recent actions -- a threat to veto a bill with $2 billion for restoration projects and backing the removal of Everglades National Park from an international list of ''endangered'' sites. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Merritt Island Nat’l Wildlife Refuge Harbors Vast Diversity Of Wildlife

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  MERRITT ISLAND, FL - MARCH 12: A alligator keeps and eye on a Great Egret at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on March 12, 2009 in Merritt Island, Florida. The 140,000-acre refuge was created in 1963 as part of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center to home more than 1,500 species of various animals and plants. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Florida Scales Back Everglades Sugar Land Deal

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  EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, FL - AUGUST 05: An alligator floats in a pond in the Florida Everglades after the South Florida Water Management District announced it may reduce the size of the deal it had announced earlier in the year with U.S. Sugar on August 5, 2010 in the Everglades National Park, Florida. The original proposal, announced in 2008, was to buy all of the U.S. Sugar Corporations assets and use the land to replenish the Everglades, letting water from Lake Okeechobee run its natural route. The plan now because of state budget cut backs is to buy 26,800 acres and retain a 10-year option to buy the rest of the land. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
• Wildlife Reserves Singapore Prepare To Open River Safari Attraction

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  A Yangtze Alligator. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

• Zurich Classic of New Orleans – Round One

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  AVONDALE, LA - APRIL 25: A giant alligator sits on the 14th fairway during the first round of the Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana on April 25, 2013 in Avondale, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

• Zurich Classic of New Orleans – Round One

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  AVONDALE, LA - APRIL 25: A giant alligator sits on the 14th fairway during the first round of the Zurich Classic at TPC Louisiana on April 25, 2013 in Avondale, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
• RBC Heritage – Preview Day 3

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  HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC - APRIL 16: An alligator in the water during the RBC Heritage Pro-Am at Harbour Town Golf Links on April 16, 2014 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Tyler Lecka/Getty Images)

• The Honda Classic – Preview Day 2

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  PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL - FEBRUARY 23: An alligator as seen during a preview round for The Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa - Champion Course on February 23, 2016 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

• National Parks Threatened As Government Shutdown Continues

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  EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, - JANUARY 02: An alligator is seen in the Everglades National Park during the 12th day of a partial government shutdown on January 02, 2019 in Everglades National Park, United States. A private nonprofit group is handling most of the operational chores as they keep the park open for visitors during the shutdown. Thousands of National Park Rangers have been furloughed waiting for Congress and President Donald Trump to reach a deal to fund the government. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
• The Honda Classic – Round One

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  PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: A alligator as seen during the first round of the Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa on February 28, 2019 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

• The Honda Classic – Round Two

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  PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA - MARCH 01: An alligator as seen on the course during the second round of the Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa on March 01, 2019 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

• Administration To Support $200 Million Funding For Everglades Restoration

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  EVERGLADES AND FRANCIS S. TAYLOR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA, FLORIDA - MAY 15: An alligator is seen in the Florida Everglades on May 15, 2019 in Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area, Florida. President Donald Trump yesterday announced his support of using $200 million to fund projects aimed at restoring Florida’s Everglades. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
• Administration To Support $200 Million Funding For Everglades Restoration

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  EVERGLADES AND FRANCIS S. TAYLOR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA, FLORIDA - MAY 15: An alligator is seen in the Florida Everglades on May 15, 2019 in Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area, Florida. President Donald Trump yesterday announced his support of using $200 million to fund projects aimed at restoring Florida’s Everglades. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

• Combination Of Rising Sea Levels And Subsiding Land Endanger Louisiana Coast

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  TERREBONNE PARISH, LA - AUGUST 28: A dead alligator sits in the boat after being hunted in bayou waters in Terrebonne Parish near Houma, Louisiana on August 28, 2019. Wednesday is the first day of Louisiana's alligator hunting season, which runs for only 30 days. According to researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Louisiana's combination of rising waters and sinking land give it one of the highest rates of relative sea level rise on the planet. Since the 1930s, Louisiana has lost over 2,000 square miles of land and wetlands, an area roughly the size of Delaware. In the past 30 years, as subsidence continues and the effects of climate change increase, Louisiana has been losing its coastal landscape at the rate of almost a football fields worth of land every hour. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

• Orange County National Championship – Final Round

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  ORLANDO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: An alligator watches the action on the seventh hole during the final round of the Orange County National Championship at Orange County National Golf Club on October 11, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
• Orange County National Championship – Final Round

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  ORLANDO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: An alligator as seen on the seventh hole during the final round of the Orange County National Championship at Orange County National Golf Club on October 11, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

• Florida Wildlife And Daily Life Scenes

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  DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 15: An alligator in the Wakodahatchee Wetlands on February 15, 2021 in Delray Beach, Florida (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

• Florida Wildlife And Daily Life Scenes

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  DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 15: An alligator in the Wakodahatchee Wetlands on February 15, 2021 in Delray Beach, Florida (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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Author Mason Dixon

Category:

• Mason Dixon

Tags:

Alligator,alligator mating season,Florida,Mating season,Safety