What to do if you find yourself alone with an alligator

On May 6, a XNUMX-foot alligator in Florida capsized a canoe in which a married couple was sailing, then attacked and killed the woman. This tragic incident shows that one should not forget about safety rules when in contact with these reptiles, writes The New York Times.

Photo: Alligator © Larry Portmann | Dreamstime.com

According to the commission, Florida averaged eight unprovoked alligator attacks per year from 2012 to 2022. Many of them were so serious that people needed medical attention.

The commission urges caution around water during the alligator breeding season, which runs from early April to June. The risk of attack is higher during this period, as the reptiles become more active and aggressive. Some specimens can reach almost five meters in length.

On the subject: Alligator Kills Woman During Canoe Trip in Florida: Husband Tries to Save Her but Failed

Here are some tips on how to prevent attacks and stay safe around dangerous reptiles.

Alligator Habitats

According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, alligators live from central Texas to North Carolina. Louisiana and Florida have the largest populations, with more than a million in each state. Georgia has between 200 and 000 alligators, and South Carolina has about 250.

Morgan Hart, alligator project manager for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, believes the attacks have increased because of “an increase in human population in the state’s coastal plain.” When new residential areas are built, artificial lakes are often created nearby, which soon become populated with alligators.

Be careful

If you encounter an alligator on land, "just back away," Hart says.
"If an alligator feels like a person is getting too close and has no escape route, it may hiss," she said.

A person should be wary if an alligator approaches on its own: this may mean that it has been fed and has begun to associate people with food.

People should keep about 10 feet away from alligators, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

"They rarely chase people, but can outrun or outswim the fastest person in the first 10 meters," the department said, noting that alligators can reach speeds of up to 56 km/h over short distances on land.

Look after children and dogs

Alligators prefer to pursue prey that is easy to overcome.

"Pets often remind alligators of their usual prey," said Lauren Clairbout, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Wildlife.

Animals should be kept on a leash and not allowed to swim or run along the banks of canals, ponds, or lakes where alligators may be present.

"The sound of barking and playing dogs may attract the reptile," the commission warned.

Be vigilant when swimming

Wildlife agencies recommend swimming only in designated areas, during the day and without pets.

"Alligators are most active from dusk to dawn," Clerbout noted.

The Florida State Commission advises staying calm and not approaching an alligator if you spot one in the water.

Don't feed the alligators

In Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas (except during hunting season), feeding alligators is prohibited because it is dangerous.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries warns against throwing fish guts into water or feeding other animals in areas where alligators live.

"Until they're fed, they're afraid of people," added Donald Houser, manager of Gator Park near Miami.
He said if you feed an alligator for three days in a row, it loses its fear of people, "so just stay away."

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How to fight back

You should only fight off an alligator if it has grabbed you, experts say.
"In this case, aim for the eyes, nose, or throat - these are the most sensitive areas," recommends the manager of Everglades National Park in South Florida. "Punch, kick, punch as hard as you can - do whatever it takes to make the alligator unclench its jaws."

But, as Hauser said, once you're in the alligator's jaws, your chances of survival are slim: "You better have someone there who knows what to do."

"Alligators don't eat people," he concluded, "but they can bite. The problem is that a person can stay underwater for too long because of this, and then the probability of survival approaches zero."

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