Swimming safety tips for Florida lakes, including one that could be home to 30,000 gators
Spring break is right around the corner and summer is right behind it, which means more people swimming, tubing, wakeboarding and skiing in Florida lakes — lakes that more than one million alligators call home.
If you live in Florida, you likely know you have to coexist with alligators. So long as you keep your distance and never feed one if it crosses your path, you should be fine.
There are, however, risks, especially when it comes to water. The largest and most alligator-infested lake in the state has more than 9,000 alligators confirmed to be living in it, with another 21,000 estimated to be lurking in the same water.
If there are signs warning about alligators, heed those warnings.
Here is a list of the most alligator-infested lakes in Florida and swimming safety tips to help you avoid a gator encounter this summer (or year-round).
What lake in Florida has the highest population of alligators?
Each year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission takes a census of 50 alligator-infested places in Florida to gauge how many alligators are living in the state. The FWC says it enlists the help of scientists and biologists who go out on airboats at night to count how many glowing sets of red eyes they see floating on the water.
Counting every gator is not possible, so the exact count and some math magic are used to estimate what the total population likely is for some lakes.
When is alligator mating season?
Alligator mating season can start as early as April, but it's typically between May and June.
Top 5 Florida lakes with the most alligators
Here is a list of the five most alligator-infested lakes in Florida, according to A-Z Animals blog:
Lake Okeechobee: 9,308 counted alligators with an estimated population of about 30,000. Lake Okeechobee is Florida's largest freshwater lake and borders Palm Beach County, Martin County, Glades County, Okeechobee County, and Hendry County. It's about 30 miles from Lake Okeechobee or "Lake O" to Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Orange Lake: 2,732 alligators. Orange Lake is in Alachua County and about 20 miles to Gainesville. Coincidentally, the University of Florida mascot is an alligator, the school is home to the Florida Gators, and its colors are orange and blue.
Lake George: 2,660 alligators. Lake George, or Lake Welaka to some, is in Volusia County on the St. Johns River, north of Orlando and south of Jacksonville. It's about 15 miles from Crescent City, Florida.
Lake Jesup: 2,414 alligators with an estimated population as high as 13,000. Lake Jesup is in Seminole County and about 12 miles from Orlando Sanford International Airport.
Lake Kissimmee: 2,065 alligators. Lake Kissimmee is in Osceola County and Polk County and about 20 miles from Lake Wales, Florida. Though Kissimmee is in its name, Lake Kissimmee is about 55 miles away from Kissimmee, Florida.
Top 10 most alligator-infested lakes in the U.S. Psst, Florida is in there, a lot
In November 2023, A-Z Animals listed the Top 10 lakes in the U.S. that contain alligators and a lot of Florida lakes made the list.
Florida:
Lake George, Lake Jesup, Alligator Lake, Lake Kissimmee, Lake Okeechobee, Lake Poinsett, Sawgrass Lake
Louisiana:
Caddo Lake, Cypress Lake
Texas:
Lake Lewisville
Swimming safety tips: What to do if you see an alligator? What are alligator escape tips?
Though Florida residents have learned to coexist with alligators, the potential for conflict always exists, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The wildlife commission recommends people avoid feeding alligators and to keep your distance if you see one. "Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours. And keep pets on a leash and away from the water," FWC's site states.
If you're already swimming and see an alligator while you're in the water, calmly swim in the other direction and get out of the water. Don't splash around, this will attract the alligator.
According to the FWC, "If an alligator bites you, the best thing to do is fight back, providing as much noise and resistance as possible. Hitting or kicking the alligator or poking it in its eyes may cause it to release its grip. When alligators seize prey they cannot easily overpower, they will often let go and retreat."
You can also trigger a gator's gag reflex by shoving objects into the back of its mouth, if you have to. If it gags and tries to reposition its grip on you, that's your window to make an escape.
Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare here, but if you are concerned about a gator, call the nuisance alligator hot line at 866-392-4286 or visit myfwc.com.
How do you escape an alligator attack? What is the best way to get away from a gator?
Native Floridians learn as early as preschool to run away in a zig-zag line upon encountering a gator, but this has actually been debunked. Gators can run fast on land, but only in short distances before they get tired. Simply run away in a straight line.
If you find yourself tempted to take a night swim in a lake, river, pond or any natural body of fresh water, just don't. If the sun is down, the gators are out.
If you're walking or relaxing beside a lake, pond or river with your dog or cat, keep them at least 10 feet away from the shore and on a leash.
This should go without saying, but never feed an alligator. You definitely don't want this wild animal to associate you with food.
Can you shoot an alligator in your yard in Florida?
Don't try to "take care" of any gators yourself. If you don't have a permit to be hunting gators, you can't shoot one. And, depending on where you live, just by firing gun you may be breaking other local laws.
Under Florida law, it's a third-degree felony to "intentionally kill, injure, possess or capture, or attempt to kill, injure, possess or capture an alligator or other crocodilian, or the eggs of an alligator or other crocodilian, unless authorized by rules of the commission."
The Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program trappers relocate gators under 4 feet long and kills nuisance gators that are longer than 4 feet.
"Relocated alligators often try to return to their capture site," according to the SNAP website. "They can create problems for people or other alligators along the way. If an alligator successfully returns, capturing it again would be necessary and likely more difficult the second time."
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida alligator mating season, spring break coming up: Safety tips
