Alligators are amazing creatures and surviors. However they have built a certain reputation of being very deadly and dangerous creatures. The American alligator is normally a somewhat docile creature who has a natural fear of man. Yes there have been attacks and deaths caused by alligators on humans, but these attacks can usually be prevented. Most alligators do not look at human beings as prey, we are usually to big and intimidating looking. Bigger gators do indeed begin seeing us as prey but very large gators like this arent usually to close to peoples living habitats. Most alligators that grow to be very large live deep into the Florida Everglades.

The number one way of avoiding attack would be obvious and this is to stay out of areas that they call home lakes,swamps,canals. There is a saying that any lake in Florida either has, had, or will have an alligator in it at some point which is very true. So avoiding lakes that arent designated for swimming would be number one of the list to avoid attack. The next would be not to provoke an alligator throwing rocks, taunting, and especially feeding are things that should not be done. Feeding an alligator your may think would be good to keep it full and not look at you as dinner, but however is the worst thing you can do. By feeding an alligator they then start to equate people with food. Which naturally they do not do.

Once an alligator starts being fed by humans they will start coming up and investigating people thinking they will get a free hand out. They inevitable end to this at some point will either be the alligator being killed by a scared human being, or the alligator attacking a human. So please help to keep these wonderful creatures afraid of us humans and do not feed them.

About the author: Stephen Bis is a student at FAU. Who majors in Marine Biology, and has been diving and studying South Florida's Marine life. Check out this site for more information about the American Alligator