TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Alligator mating season is here in Florida, and wildlife experts remind residents to be cautious.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, alligator courtship begins in April before the merger season takes place in May or June.
Women build a nest with a pile of soil, vegetation, or debris in late June or early July, lay between 32 and 46 eggs. Incubation periods take approximately 60 to 65 days before eggs can be hatched in late August or early September, FWC said.
Crocodiles live in Florida’s marsh, marsh, rivers and lakes, and are located in all 67 counties.
The FWC said serious injuries caused by crocodiles are rare in Florida. From 2012 to 2022, Florida is on average not being provoked eight per year.
Safety Tips:
It keeps a safe distance when you see crocodiles keep their pets away from the water and swimming in chains only in designated areas during the day or without pets. Never feed the crocodile, it is illegal and dangerous.
When you feed a crocodile, it poses a threat to people, pets, and property and may need to be removed from the wild. When crocodiles are fed, they can lose their natural vigilance and learn to associate people with food availability, the FWC said.
If you are worried that the crocodile is calling FWC Nuisance Aligator Hotline 866-392-4286.
