Contributing Writer
Capt. Cathy Eagle
There are an estimated 1.3 million alligators in the state of Florida and they inhabit all 67 counties. It’s very easy to spot one if you spend time near fresh water or natural habitats like state parks, nature preserves, wildlife refuges like the Everglades, Six-Mile Cypress Slough, and the J.N. Ding Darling National Refuge on Sanibel. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn and even more so during mating and nesting season. This is when we experience most attacks on humans and domestic animals.
Mating season begins with courtship in early April with the peak during May and June. Females build their nests and lay eggs in late June to early July. Hatching takes place from mid-August through early September and this is when mother alligators fiercely defend and guard their young. Hence, most alligator attacks in Florida occur between May and September, coinciding with the warmer months when gators are most active and humans are enjoying the warm waters for swimming. About 75% of all reported attacks happen in this time-frame.
It is not advisable to wade near the water’s edge between dusk and dawn as this is when the majority of surprise attacks occur. If you know the area is a known alligator habitat, stay away from the water’s edge at this time of day. Also keep your pets away from the water’s edge as dogs closely resemble the natural prey of alligators.
In Central Florida during the last week of June, 2026, alligators injured three persons and one died from her injuries. The Florida Wildlife Commission captured a 13-foot alligator at the scene where the 31- year-old woman was bit and another 12-footer was nearby. Either alligator could have been responsible for the fatal attack. Officials captured and euthanized an 8-foot gator that bit a young boy’s hand while he was fishing with his dad in Marion County during the same week.
Serious encounters with alligators and humans still remain extremely rare. The odds of a Florida resident experiencing a serious injury in an unprovoked attack are approximately one in 3.1 million. According to the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC), roughly 96% of bites are caused by risky human behavior such as swimming in undesignated waters at dusk or dawn and feeding wild alligators which causes them to lose their natural fear of humans.
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Capt. Cathy Eagle
Captain Cathy Eagle has spent over 45 years boating on our local waters. As a professional Charter Captain, she specializes in Dolphin and Nature tours.
Capt. Cathy's Boat Tours
Matlacha, Florida
(239) 994-2572
www.CaptainCathy.com
