Are alligators a problem in Florida?

Question

I never want to face an alligator and I dont want one eating my cat. Do I have to worry about alligators near St Petersburg Florida?

Answer 1

The alligators aren't the problem, it's the people moving into their habitat that are the problem. Especially people who think it's cool to feed a wild gator. This causes the gator to lose its fear of people and to expect food from people. This is a cause of many attacks. Gators prefer to be left alone and don't normally want anything to do with people.

Answer 2

Chances are every body of water in florida has an alligator. And yes they do live in st. Pete. Don't worry alligators wont hurt you (well they will but its not likely) most attacks happen in the water at night in a river or pond. If you live right by a lake then i would be concerned about your cat but if you just have a little pond 2 blocks away don't worryy about it. As a general rule cats can take care of themselves and will only be attacked if they are by the waters edge.

Answer 3

keep your cats away from water and NEVER EVER feed them,they will start to see people as a food source if you do...

Answer 4

Any body of water in Florida either is, was or will be home to an alligator. Cats have a big advantage over dogs... anything new in a dog's territory, the dog has to go check it out... some of them can't be kept out of the water, either... alligators are smart enough to watch a dog over the course of a month or more before actually grabbing it. Cats, however, are much more cautious about trespassers, and will rarely go down to the water's edge. Not that alligators WON'T eat cats, they just don't get as many opportunities. If you want to guarantee that you cat doesn't get eaten by an alligator, or a hawk, or a neighborhood dog, or a fox, or an eagle, or anything else that will gladly eat it, it needs to be kept inside.

Answer 5

Only in southern Florida but you can always call an alligator remover.

Answer 6

Gators are not a problem. The problem is that there are too many people that don't know how to live outside of cities but move into the country.

Answer 7

Gators are EVERY WHERE in florida.. i live in ocala florida (central florida) and the're gators in every pond here...once i went to go walk my dog and right beside the car was a baby gator well it has to be last then a year .. i never ran so fast in my life before.. and me and my boyfriend didnt live near water it has to be like 3 miles before we actually were close to a pond

Answer 8

Usually they are not so aggressive if you leave them alone.  But, that is not always the case, especially around mating season which is when they are at their most aggressive time.  Right now there are 1 million alligators in Florida.  Whoever said they are only a problem in South Florida has no idea what he is talking about.  I live in the Tampa area and yes, they are here too. We have a retention pond that was man made for drainage issues and have about 1-2 alligators a year that try to make it their new home.  Never had a problem with them until the last one that was here.  He got a hold of my dog and drug him under water.  Tried to kill him by drowning him.  Thank God my dog escaped with in the long run minor damage.  First issue in 7 years, but it only takes 1 time.  Be safe....

Answer 9

there not really a problem here

only near swamps is where there could be a problem

Answer 10

Ask any fan of Flordia University.  ;)