The only place there are no gators in Florida is in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
“The only place there are no gators in Florida is in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico”
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FYI: ‘Gators do sometimes venture into saltwater. I’ve seen pics of them in the Pamlico Sound (NC) and even one photographed over on Ocracoke Island on the OBX several years ago. They don’t do well in saltwater; as they can’t get rid of the salt from their systems like some crocs can and will eventually die if they can’t get back to fresh water.
That said, the American crocodile is being reestablished in south Florida ...they are known to reach 20 feet and regularly attack humans in the Central American and the Caribbean parts of their current range. The American crocodile is one of two crocodile species known to inhabit both fresh and saltwater. (The other is the Estuarine/Saltwater crocodile of the Indo-Pacific; an notorious “man-eater.”)
Based upon current USF&W plans the American crocodile will be reestablished in both Atlantic and Gulf waters around the southern tip of FL and the FL Keyes.
If that isn’t enough “fun” for future Floridians; recently several young Nile crocodiles were captured in the Florida Everglades ...no one knows how many more may be out there undiscovered. Nile crocs are extremely aggressive and only exceeded in size by the Estuarine crocs. Of all the crocodilians, “Niles” account for the largest number of human attacks/fatalities each year.
Personally, I believe the reintroduction of large saltwater crocodilians adjacent to areas that have heavy human populations is reckless and bound to lead to future attacks/fatalities. This is due to the fact that the younger males will be driven out by larger males and migrate along the coast to new areas. Just ask the people around Darwin Australia what they think about it!
“The only place there are no gators in Florida is in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.”
If you’re near an inlet or the mouth of a river, even then it’s no guarantee. Here’s an 11 footer in shallow surf on Holden Beach in North Carolina: