Placido Bayou’s Newest Neighbor: A Gator!

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Jennie McCoun

Jennie owns Placido Bayou Realty, Inc. Jennie has lived and worked in Placido for more than 20 years. Call or text Jennie anytime to discuss Real Estate in Placido Bayou and Tampa Bay.

The gator spotted in Lake Heron. Photo Credit: Krystina Quintana

Placido Bayou residents are talking about their newest neighbor, a gator! At about four feet long, he has been spotted in Lake Heron. Lake Heron is one of the 10 lakes in Placido Bayou. It is rare to see a gator in the lakes. However, there are signs posted reminding residents to beware of gators and keep a safe distance. 

Have you spotted the gator? Share your story in the comments below!

The gator peeks out of the edge of the lake. Photo Credit: Krystina Quintana


 

Placido Bayou HOA posted this notice about the gator:

Dear Residents – We have had reports that there is an alligator in the lakes. Alligators are part of our environment in Florida but we know that some residents are uncomfortable with the idea of alligators so we have included some information below. If anyone feels that an alligator is becoming a nuisance, they can call the hotline directly. Just a reminder, never feed wildlife. Information below:

The Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) is administered by the FWC’s Division of Hunting and Game Management. SNAP is one of five components of Florida’s comprehensive Alligator Management Program. Its mission is to address complaints concerning alligators.

Persons with concerns about an alligator may call our toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). When someone concerned about an alligator calls the Nuisance Alligator Hotline, we will dispatch one of our contracted nuisance alligator trappers to resolve the situation. Generally, an alligator may be deemed a nuisance if it is at least four feet in length and the caller believes it poses a threat to people, pets, or property.

SNAP uses contracted nuisance alligator trappers throughout the state to remove alligators from locations where they are unwanted or unwelcome. If a complaint meets the qualifying criteria, SNAP will issue a permit to a contracted nuisance alligator trapper authorizing the removal of the animal.

Complainants must be able to grant legal access to the property on which the alligator is located. SNAP does not permit the removal of nuisance alligators from a private or publicly managed property without first obtaining permission from the property owner or management authority.

In 2019, SNAP received 14,072 nuisance alligator complaints resulting in the removal of 8,972 nuisance alligators.

Program Information

What is a nuisance alligator?
Generally, an alligator may be considered a nuisance if it is at least four feet in length and is believed to pose a threat to people, pets, or property.

Why aren’t small alligators removed? 
Alligators less than 4 feet in length are not large enough to be dangerous unless handled. They eat fish, frogs and other small animals. Typically, they are not large enough to be a threat even to small pets. The mere presence of a small alligator is not a cause for concern. Occasionally, alligators less than 4 feet in length are legitimate problems and must be addressed. If an alligator less than four feet in length is a concern, call the Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).

Why does the FWC not relocate nuisance alligators in Florida?
Florida has a healthy and stable alligator population. We have about 1.3 million alligators in Florida. Alligators live in all 67 counties, and they inhabit all wild areas of Florida that can support them. The removal of nuisance alligators does not have a significant impact on our state’s alligator population.

Relocated alligators often try to return to their capture site. They can create problems for people or other alligators along the way. If an alligator successfully returns, capturing it again would be necessary and likely more difficult the second time.

To avoid creating a problem at the release site, nuisance alligators would need to be relocated to remote areas where they would not encounter people. These remote areas already have healthy alligator populations and the ones that already live there have established social structures. The introduction of a new alligator to these areas would likely cause fighting, possibly resulting in the death of a resident alligator or the introduced alligator.

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