As humans continue to encroach on wildlife habitat, reducing the alligator's natural food sources, it's expected that these types of attacks may increase. You don’t want them running off alone, especially during alligator mating season. Alligators don't overturn boats to capture prey. Running away is a good option and a distance of around 20 or 30 feet is usually all it takes to get safely away from an alligator. "Encountering Predators While Kayaking." It can also remain underwater for extended periods of time and hold its breath for up to one hour. Alligators will typically chase a … You will receive a verification email shortly. Proper setup of the electric fence (a couple of inches from the ground) could be a great way to keep gators out. There was a problem. The myth of running in a zig-zag pattern to escape a chasing alligator is unnecessary as alligators tire quickly and run in a straight line themselves. Just run in a straight line, directly away from the alligator, Ross said. (March 16, 2009)http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060422/NEWS/604220371/1004. The alligator that went after Jordan slipped into the water after Blackmon shot it, and it was found dead later Friday night. Alligators can inhabit lakes, rivers, and swamps, in fresh or salt water, and full-grown adults can range from 6 to 13 feet long (though the average is closer to 7 feet). Alligators are also more active at dusk, although they can be active at any time of the day or night, Ross added. Stay as far away from an alligator as you can. Even small alligators have more than 80 razor-sharp teeth. Thank you for signing up to Live Science. That's the distance that it can very rapidly strike.". Alligators and snakes are everywhere in the Lowcountry, and unfortunately sometimes that means your yard. Warn others in the area, and no matter how small the alligator is, don't attempt to pet, feed or capture it. "Can you really escape an alligator if you run in a zigzag?" An analysis showed that the alligator was a female and that her nest was nearby, Ron Magill, the Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens spokesperson, told the Washington Post. If you think an alligator is approaching you, run. Many attacks occur as a result of people teasing or trying to capture alligators. Stay Away From Nests. Holtey, Athena. Gators tend to get a bad rap based on crocs' misbehavior. The alligator prefers to sneak up on its prey in the water. Small alligators make up the majority of the alligator population. If you live or are vacationing in alligator country, there are some ways to decrease the likelihood of an unpleasant encounter. April 22, 2006. Sept. 27, 2005. The best lesson is to be cautious around waters where alligators live, Ross said. Faced with a croc? "Swimmer Bitten by Gator in Lake." Small alligators are not a threat to humans and won't attack people under normal circumstances. (March 16, 2009)http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/orllocgatorbitebox28072804july28,0,4417574.story.. Green, Merissa. It's a risky plan, however, and if the alligator has you in the water, you should do everything possible to prevent it from going into a death roll. Zigzag – If an alligator runs at you, you should run in a zigzag pattern to avoid getting caught. And it doesn't like that task. Keep your Distance. Perhaps you've seen one rise up on its long, muscular legs and sprint 500 yards (457 meters) across a wide-open field after fleeing prey. If you have children or small pets with you, keep them away from the water's edge. "Periodically, you get one behaving like this," Ross told Live Science. The speed at which humans run also depends on several factors. If an alligator hisses or lunges at you, you’re way too close. No matter how inviting the water, it makes sense to avoid it during times when alligators are most active. When trying to escape make sure you do not run in a zig-zag pattern but in a straight line which makes you run faster. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. An adult male is territorial during mating season, which is early- to mid-summer. Alligators would prefer to avoid interactions with people altogether. Visit our corporate site. As soon as you get on dry land, run to safety like your life depends on it because it might very well be. An alligator that is less than 5 feet (1.5 meters) long will typically eat crawfish, small snakes and turtles. A teenage girl rafting in a creek got the fright of her life when an alligator nearly as long as two grand-size pianos chased her up a tree in Florida's Ocala National Forest on Friday (June 29). Crocodiles are typically more aggressive than alligators and are a legitimate concern for people who share their habitat. As a last ditch effort, you may want to play dead. Single Strand electric fence is an effective option to keep alligators away from your property. Installing a pool enclosure is also a good idea, however beaware of natural alligator repellents. First, it is rare for an alligator to pursue a human because humans are too large to be suitable prey. "Hazards: Alligator Attacks Increasing (Don't Pick One Up)." Every time a person throws food out for an alligator, it leads to a death sentence for that alligator. Even though these alligators are a threat to humans, they're still wary of us. And the average human could easily outrun an alligator, zigzagging or not -- it tops out at a speed of around 11 miles per hour (18 kph), and it can't maintain that speed for very long [source: San Diego Zoo]. They don't even present a threat to small dogs. "The danger zone for an alligator is about half its body length, directly in front and about 80 or 90 degrees from either side. Here’s how to avoid the alligator’s attacks in Resident Evil 2. If you’re trying to run, or swim, away from an alligator … When your dream — nightmare? An alligator that has lost its fear of humans will most likely be trapped and killed by the state's Department of Natural Resources. Alligators could run at a maximum of 20 mph, humans could run at a maximum of 28 mph. When you see an alligator on the water's edge silently glide into the water and head toward your boat, it can be frightening. ", Jordan's case is rare but not unheard of, said James Perran Ross, a retired associate scientist of wildlife ecology and conservation at the University of Florida. (March 16, 2009)http://www.topkayaker.net/articles/natureissues/sharks.htm. The safest distance from an alligator is about 60 feet. Find out how to play it safe in gator country on the next page. It doesn't matter if you run in a zigzag or a straight line. After you take note of the "Don't Feed the Alligators" sign, you put two and two together and decide those bumps are the eyes of said creature lazily floating in the lagoon. You've never witnessed such a thing? 03 July 2018. Alligators simply are much more comfortable in water than on land, so when they're startled by a boat while sunning themselves, they instinctively head for the water. This is one reason why large prey presents a problem for an alligator. It may seem obvious, but the easiest way to avoid an alligator attack is to avoid these territorial predators. Quickly move towards shore and get out of the water as soon as possible. If it’s close and manages to clamp down on you, jab your fingers into it’s eyes and scream, splash, and make it seem more trouble than it’s worth to try to “death roll” you. Instead scream, splash and generally create as much confusion for the alligator as possible. Alligators can inhabit lakes, rivers, and swamps, in fresh or salt water, and full-grown adults can range from 6 to 13 feet long (though the average is closer to 7 feet). The alligator releases dead prey as it prepares to maneuver it back into its throat. Found in Australia, Africa, Mexico and Central and South America, crocodiles have a highly effective salt filtering gland that allows them to live in brackish water and saltwater. It latches onto its prey and begins what is known as the death roll. The words "death roll" don't sound good, do they? For starters, don't go into the water if there is an alligator there. You're frightened for a moment, but then you remember the classic adage: You can escape an alligator if you run in a zigzag. But once they attack, they don't want to do a lot of work. Alligators prefer an easy meal. This can provide you the opportunity to escape. The gator is likely to turn and open its mouth at you and snarl or hiss. If you run in a zig-zag, you just make it easier for the alligator to catch you. Considering alligators are well adjusted to running with their legs positioned straighter than other crocodilians, you should run as fast as possible. "Avoiding Encounters with Alligators." The best way to keep them at bay … "Struggle, fight, push, gouge, scream — anything you can do to get away," Ross said. Unless you're near a tall, climbable tree like Jordan was, you may not know what to do. On the surface, modern alligators might not seem as impressive as the giants they once walked among.
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