If your backyard backs up to a pond, lake or canal in South Florida, alligators are a fact of life. Here's how to reduce the chances of one settling in — and what to do when it does.
You can't fully alligator-proof open water
Any connected pond or canal in South Florida can host an alligator; they move between water bodies constantly. So the goal isn't a guarantee — it's reducing the attraction and knowing how to respond.
The single most important rule: never feed alligators, and don't leave food (including pet food and fish scraps) near the water. Fed gators lose their fear of people and become genuinely dangerous nuisance animals.
Reduce the attractants
Keep the shoreline vegetation trimmed so gators have less cover, don't leave pets unattended near the water, don't toss food or fish into the pond, and secure any small livestock. A tidy, low-cover shoreline is less inviting.
Even so, a gator may still show up — especially a larger one during breeding season. That's when it's time to call a professional.
When to call for removal
Any alligator roughly four feet or longer that's hanging around people, pets or amenities should be removed by a licensed trapper. Don't wait for it to become bold. Our nuisance alligator removal handles it safely and legally.
For communities with shared lakes, we set up monitoring and rapid-response programs so a sighting never becomes an emergency. Call 561-940-1895.