By Kenneth Witkowich
For the News-Gazette
Recent alligator encounters serve as a reminder for airboat operators across the state to use caution, especially during alligator nesting season. Our area’s airboat operators remain committed to safety and mindfulness in the wake of recent alligator encounters.
Kathy Sekrenes of Wild Willy’s Airboat Tours in St. Cloud said alligators are more aggressive this time of year due to nesting season, which starts in early July and ends in September.
During the summer months, mothers are defensive of their nests, and Wild Willy’s airboat captains know to be cautious around them, Sekrenes said. Captains know not to be aggressive and to keep a safe distance between the alligators and the boat, she said, they just let them be -- Wild Willy’s has been in operation for 15 years and has never had a viscous experience with an alligator.
Mother alligators stay around the nest and their babies stay with them, even though they naturally have instincts to swim and do not need to learn much from their mother, Sekrenes said.
Tour operators know not to engage and to be respectful of the ecosystem, Sekrenes said. The only guaranteed alligator sighting offered at Wild Willy’s are the baby gators kept here, she said.
Brandy James is an employee at Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures in Kissimmee. She said she encounters alligators every day on airboat tours. Visitors are likely to experience the thrill of an alligator spotting when they come to Boggy Creek, she said.
James said visitors have the best chance of seeing alligators in the morning and at night when the air temperature is cooler. It is natural for alligators to stay underwater during the heat of the day.
Alligators are usually aggressive during this time of the year because they are guarding their nest. A cautious approach is recommended during encounters with alligators, James said. Airboat tour operators know to keep distance between the boat and alligators, especially during nesting season.
Boggy Creek keeps gators, which on Sundays, they feed in front of visitors. Boggy Creek has been in business for 30 years.
Aaron Davis is an airboat owner who regularly takes his boat on the swampy waters of Citrus, Marion and Sumter Counties. He has seen many alligators during the time he spends on the water.
Davis said he has seen five to six-foot alligators on Crystal and Salt rivers, as well as seven-footers on the Withlacoochee River.
Davis said that during alligator nesting season, alligators are more aggressive than normal. He said boaters know to keep a safe distance because of how territorial alligators can get near their nest.
“Because of the wind, vibration and size of airboats,” Davis said, “it is probably the safest way to enjoy the natural presence of alligators.”
Although he has never experienced a viscous alligator encounter, Davis said that recent attacks and encounters he has heard about throughout the state remind him to be extra cautious.
“Airboats are a great way to experience the natural Florida habitat,” Davis said, “but we have to remember that it's their home too.”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission monitors alligators closely. The average length of alligators measured by FWC was 8.3 feet, however, there were 76 male gators measuring over 12 feet long. Male alligators are normally larger than females. Adult alligators can swim as fast as 20 miles per hour and weigh up to 1,000 pounds.
The FWC is aware and active about alligator encounters. It operates an alligator nuisance hotline available at 866-392-4286.
