I got alligators here in ETX and our other place. I don’t hunt them either. Just don’t feed them. They don’t raid your trash like bears.
On a recent trip to Florida we rented a home on a canal intending to do some kayaking. I like kayaking but don’t get to do it often, so thought calm water might be a good place to start.
My first day there I saw an alligator and called to my daughter to look out the window. As soon as I did, the alligator turned to come closer, and swam right up the boat ramp where the kayaks were.
You don’t have to be the one who feeds them. Someone else may have done that before, so now you become their next meal. No thanks.
We never took the kayaks out after that. Did hiking and a boat tour instead.
As I’ve mentioned in the past, growing up in Florida on lakes, rivers, canals, etc, I never once worried about alligators. Barely ever saw them. If you go to any of those places now, the alligators have beat you there.
My niece had an alligator come into her fenced yard in the last year. He was roaming the neighborhood. Ate a neighbor’s dog.
That’s worse than having trash strewn about.