ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Alligators and Florida go hand in hand. They have been spotted in homes, climbing fences and at schools over the last few years and beyond.
Starting every April, the large reptiles get especially active ahead of mating season, which starts in May.
While you may know a lot about alligators, there are likely some things you don’t know.
Gatorland Park Director Savannah Boan joined Matt Austin and Ginger Gadsden on Florida’s Fourth Estate to talk about the top five facts about alligators.
1. Alligators are naturally afraid of human beings
Boan said the only time gators approach people is when people start feeding them illegally.
“When they lose their fear of humans, that’s when they start to approach people, that’s when they start to approach pets, that’s when we hear all of those terrible stories in Florida start to happen,” she said.
2. Alligator moms are really good moms
The alligator enthusiast pointed out the reptiles will protect their hatchlings for up to a year. So, when you see a nest in the wild, do not approach.
“Alligator moms will protect their entire nest. They will protect it at any cost. So, if you see a big mound of anything anywhere in the state of Florida, don’t go near it,” Boan said.
3. Alligators can go through 2,000 teeth in a lifetime
Unlike humans, Boan said alligators have an almost never-ending supply of teeth.
“Every time they lose teeth, they grow a new tooth in,” she said.
4. Alligator eyes “glow in the dark”
Boan said alligators have a built-in warning system letting people and other animals know where they are at night.
“If you shine the water with a flashlight and you see something red looking back at you, that’s an alligator,” Boan said.
5. Gatorland helped save the American gator in Florida
The University of Florida mascot is more fitting than you may think.
Boan said the university actually helped alligators survive in The Sunshine State.
“Back in the early ‘80s when the alligator population was at its lowest, Gatorland worked with the University of Florida and they did an artificial insemination of the first American alligator. Now, alligator numbers are good,” Boan said.
Bonus fact: Even though you have likely heard that you should run zig-zag away from an alligator, Boan said that is false. She said if one runs toward you, you should run straight away from it.
Learn more about gators and Gatorland on Florida’s Fourth Estate. You can download the podcast from wherever you listen to podcasts or watch anytime on News 6+.
You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below: