The onset of warm weather in the spring is when Florida’s native crocodilians start getting active, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is urging Floridians and visitors to be cautious when having fun in and around water.
Florida is home to two native crocodilians – the American alligator, which is found in all 67 counties, and the American crocodile, which may be found in coastal areas of the Keys, Southeast and Southwest Florida. Both species have shared Florida’s waters with people for centuries. The FWC recommends keeping pets away from the water. There are other precautionary measures people should take to reduce potential conflicts with alligators and crocodiles, and they are available in the “Living with Alligators” brochure at www.MyFWC.com/Alligator and the “Living with Crocodiles” brochure at www.MyFWC.com/Crocodile.