Question For Florida Residents Regarding Alligators

[Erik_in_TN]

We're going to be vacationing in Fla next week (March 1 - 5). Rather than spending the entire week on the beach, we were wanting to explore some of the backwoods and hopefully see gator in the wild. Years ago we visited Myakka(spelling?) state park which sits near the Sarasota/Bradenton area of SouthWest Fla. We were hoping to do something very similar to that where we can canoe alongside gator in the wild.

Does anybody have any other recommendations of areas in Fla (besides the Everglades...we're not going to be that far South) where we can see gator up close. Also, how active are the gator during this time of year? We're not looking for any type of airboat/guided tours, but rather parks where we can canoe and have opportune chances for nature photography.

I've also looked into Fort DeSoto state park below Tampa, which looks beautiful. Does anyone know how busy that area will be during early March?

Thanks for any tips/info.

 

[OK!]

Well, this isn't public, but here's one of our new neighbors in FL (vacation home). He lives in the lake that's about 20 feet from the back door.

Other than that, sorry, I just don't know. It's been so long since I've been to a destination other than WDW in Florida that I wouldn't know where to start.

 

[lillygator]

Myakka park is a great place. What part will you be in?

 

[golfgal]

Just visit any smaller golf course with a pond and you can see gators up close and personal. We were in Fort Myers or Marco Island and went golfing at a public course around there. One of the players in my group hit a ball into what looked from a distance to be a pile of rocks. As we got closer we discovered that it was about 100 small gaters sunning themselves . We gave him a free drop on that one.

If you are going to be out by Kennedy Space Center they have alligators all over the place out there (in the ditches along side the road).

 

[OrlandoMike]

I know it's not in the wild, but you cant beat an afternoon at Gatorland!

Great half day park, and your gonna get your fill of Gators!

 

[cherylp3]

Lake Jesup in Oviedo. http://www.theblackhammock.com/

 

[tileman]

where we can see gator up close

I say Gatorland a good and safe way to see them.

Believe me I'am born & raised in Fla. And you do not want to just happen to find one in the woods or near the water feet from you

I have seen them run very fast for 15 to 30 feet they prefer to sneak up
on you.

Some guy's around here say the likelihood that an alligator would ever chase you on dry land is so low but I will not be wanting to try and find out.

Ron.

 

[Art 1]

Lake Jesup in Oviedo. http://www.theblackhammock.com/

Yes, that's the place. The toll road has a long bridge that goes over, you will see many. You can also to Sanford Fla. along Lk. Monroe and see all the gators that you care to see.

 

[Cruisin]

This place is only about 25 minutes or so north of Orlando.

You can canoe here:

http://www.kingslandingfl.com/

There is also some sort of state park called the Wekiva River Park? It is very close to the line above.

We rented canoes from there last October and just paddled around.

We can across a whole ton of baby gators. We only saw one larger one but the people ahead of us were being kinda noisy and I think they scared some off.

Here are a couple of pictures that we took:

 

[Erik_in_TN]

Great pics everybody.

And Cruisin, I had never even heard of Kings Landing until now. Definitely on top of our possibliity list.

 

[lucas]

If you are on Alligator Alley (crossing South Florida from east to west) there are lots along the canal banks. Even going to WDW on the turnpike, you can see some on the canal banks from the car.

Keep a look out and you will see them sunning themselves, and also you can see their heads in the water. Look closely for this:

You can also see them at the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel.

 

[GeorgeG]

Just come to Florida and look around. They're all over the place, especially around any standing water, even small ponds. Keep your distance, though. They are not pets! If you go looking for gators you just might find a few snakes, too. They're not pets, either.

 

[LargoLori]

Ft De Soto park is very nice. We have camped there several times. Never have seen a gator there but the racoons are everywhere and huge.

http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_DeSoto.htm

 

[Pixiedust34]

Those are great gator photos! When we are near a body of water at WDW we always do a "gator check" but haven't seen one yet.

Has anyone ever seen a gator while canoeing at Fort Wilderness? My dh and dd canoed on our last trip but it started to rain while they were on the boat and they didn't see wildlife except for birds, which was a shame because they were hoping to see at least some deer or turtles AND maybe a gator.

 

[lillygator]

Also the Ding Darling park on Sanibel.

 

[PeterPan09]

Saw one yesterday morning on the way to work. He was just hanging out in the pond alongside the on-ramp from 192 to I-4.

I've seen them in the "river" at MK while riding the Empress Lily, in a couple of the retention ponds on the property...and there are 5 in the retention pond in my complex at last count.

From what I understand, the general rule is if there's a lake or a pond of water in Florida, there's at least one gator in it.

 

[Art 1]

Saw one yesterday morning on the way to work. He was just hanging out in the pond alongside the on-ramp from 192 to I-4.

I've seen them in the "river" at MK while riding the Empress Lily, in a couple of the retention ponds on the property...and there are 5 in the retention pond in my complex at last count.

From what I understand, the general rule is if there's a lake or a pond of water in Florida, there's at least one gator in it.

I have seen on in there as well. There is also a very large one in the pond at I-4 and Conroy at the exit for the mall.

 

[NotUrsula]

Just FYI, in my experience growing up in S. Louisiana, gators in the wild tend to smell really foul because of the carrion they eat.

You can usually smell them long before you see them, and if the smell of rotting meat bothers you, going looking for them is probably not a good idea.

You are better off seeing them from a bridge, boardwalk or boat than on land. As a PP noted, they can move REALLY fast when they want to.