Are alligators dangerous?

Yes. They can run as fast as a horse, they have lots of big teeth and they can climb part way up trees. We have struck a deal with our alligators, though: if we leave them alone, they will leave us alone. It is against the law to feed alligators – we are better off if they are afraid of us than if they think of us as a source of food. Females protecting a nest are extremely dangerous if approached. Alligators live in the lagoons so you must never swim in a lagoon or let children (even supervised) play on the banks of a lagoon. Alligators consider dogs a delicacy. Alligators move around – a lagoon that has none today could have one tomorrow. An alligator that has been fed will approach humans and will be caught and destroyed. We say “a fed alligator is a dead alligator”.