Florida is home to over a million American alligators. These ferocious reptiles can grow to sizes of 17 feet and can take prey ranging from fish to cattle, but these alligators rarely exceed the length of 12 feet. American alligators are opportunists and they do not usually attack humans. Alligators typically feed on fish and other small alligators. These gators can attack humans when they swim and reach the Alligator’s territory as these blunt nosed reptiles are very territorial.
Recent alligator attacks on native people in Florida
The wildlife officials have taken strict measures to protect these reptiles from hunting and this has resulted in a significant increase in the population of American alligators.
In recent years, these predators have grown frequently to sizes exceeding 14 feet and are often seen roaming around the streets of Florida. People usually feed American alligators near the lakes in Florida and this causes these animals to attack and bite the Native People. There has been a significant increase in the number of alligator attacks on humans in the past three years and usually young children swimming in the water are attacked.
In September 2016, an adult male was attacked by an alligator on the Melbourne’s crane creek. A two year old boy was killed by an alligator at an artificial lake at the Disney’s Grand Floridian resort last year. A twenty year old boy was dragged into the water by a giant 14 feet gator at the Florida Lake in early 2015.
Necessary steps to protect humans from alligator attacks in Florida
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission should make sure that native people and these reptiles do not confront each other frequently. The large American alligators should be kept in isolated lakes far from people, and strict action should be taken against individuals swimming in lakes infested with alligators and other dangerous predators.
A minimum of six months prison and a $1000 fine must be imposed on people risking their lives by swimming in these deadly lakes. Park rangers and wildlife officials should observe the lakes on the regular basis and report the presence of any large alligator swimming in the water.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other wildlife departments have done really well to conserve these ancient reptiles.
An equally good effort is required by the wildlife authorities to make sure that these potential man eaters do not interact with native people, and human beings are safe from these dangerous predators.
