Martin County Sheriff's Office / Facebook
Living in close proximity of alligators is a fact of life for every Floridian even if they’re unaware of it. There are an estimated 1.25 million alligators in the Sunshine State and here in Florida we often say ‘if there’s water then you can find an alligator in it’ which, to be fair, primarily applies to freshwater but not always…
Officers from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office learned this when they were called to check out a 9-foot alligator at Sailfish Point in Martin County, Florida. Sailfish Point sits at the mouth St. Lucie River just north of Jupiter Island and Hobe Sound and much of the area is saltwater but with the river providing a lot of freshwater there are large areas of brackish water which means these Florida alligators can be found in the mangroves, on the beach, swimming next to sharks, etc.
In this case, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office says the 9-foot Florida alligator was “stalking dog walkers” and they shared photos of the catch on their Facebook page. They wrote “this 9-foot gator caused concern when spotted days prior, crossing from the riverside to the beachside and concealing itself near the popular walking area. Yesterday, the gator returned to the beachside and moved into the lanai of a community condominium.”
Martin County Sheriff's Office / Facebook
Martin County Sheriff's Office / Facebook
Here in Florida, there’s the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program which specific criteria for when an alligator can be captured and relocated. There are always situations with extenuating circumstances but in general, a nuisance alligator is one that “is deemed a nuisance if it is at least 4 feet in length and the caller believes it poses a threat to people, pets or property.”
In this instance, the 9-foot alligator was ‘stalking dog walkers’ and had moved onto the property of a home owner showing zero concern or fear of people. It was best for all parties involved, the residents and the Florida alligator, for it to be relocated to somewhere safe.
Note how in this photograph of the alligator being captured you can actually see waves cresting in the Atlantic Ocean in the background:
Martin County Sheriff's Office / Facebook
Martin County Sheriff's Office / Facebook
It is important for everyone in Florida to keep their heads on a swivel anytime they are walking near lakes, rivers, swamps, or any other area which alligators might inhabit. Even Floridians like myself with large dogs of 100+ pounds need to watch out because these gators can stay silent and hidden until pouncing at the last second. Those with small pets like cats and Yorkies want to be VERY cautious near lakes.