ORLANDO, Fla. – Alligators are coming out in full force now that it is their mating season, according to a local trapper.
"Pretty much every pond in Florida, you're possibly going to find a gator in there," said Leo Cross, owner of Florida Wildlife Trappers.
There are about 1.3 million alligators in Florida, and when the weather is hot, that's when Cross said the alligators spend early mornings and evenings lurking in the waters.
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"Gators do kind of stalk, especially at night. They're out moving around looking for stuff to eat," he said.
Cross said people should watch out for nuisance alligators.
"When they start losing their fear of humans, they'll start to approach," said Cross.
He offered these tips if someone should encounter one:
Swimming Do's & Don'ts
Florida Lakes & Ponds
--Always suspect alligators in water
--Keep your distance
--Skim top of the water
--Maneuver in zigzag pattern if alligator follows you onto land
--Keep calm
Once an alligator is trapped, Cross said it's sometimes tricky to determine if that's the right one.
"It's almost like a crime scene. You start at point A and then work out from there," he said.
Cross also hopes folks will educate themselves on how to live among them.
"It's definitely going to help save a lot of aggravation and grief when you get into this kind of situation," he said.