Every spring and summer, South Florida sees a spike in alligators turning up in yards, driveways, garages and pools. Here's what's behind it.
Breeding season and movement
Alligator mating season (roughly April through June) sends gators on the move as they search for mates and territory. Younger gators pushed out by larger ones also wander widely. During this period, they cover surprising distances over land between water bodies.
Our neighborhoods sit right in the middle of that landscape, laced with the canals and retention ponds gators travel.
Water everywhere — and sometimes food
South Florida's interconnected canals, lakes and stormwater ponds give alligators highways straight into residential areas. And where people feed them — directly or by leaving food and scraps near the water — gators lose their fear and start approaching homes.
That combination of ideal habitat and, sometimes, human-provided food is why gators end up on doorsteps.
What to do when one shows up
Keep your distance, keep pets and kids away, never feed it, and call a licensed trapper for any gator over about four feet near people or property. Don't assume it will just leave — especially if it's been fed.
Our alligator removal service covers neighborhoods across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, with rapid response for urgent situations. Call 561-940-1895.