Be CrocWise and GatorWise this summer

(Photo Caption: Top left: American alligator adult, top right: American crocodile adult, bottom left: American alligator hatchling, bottom right: American crocodile hatchling.)

Florida is well known for its American alligators, which belong to an order of reptiles called Crocodilia; however, they are not the only native crocodilian species found in the state. The American crocodile also inhabits coastal regions of southern Florida. Florida is the only place in the world where both alligators and crocodiles coexist in the wild.

Identifying American alligators and crocodiles

Alligators have a rounded "U"-shaped snout and typically only their top teeth are visible when their jaws are shut. Crocodiles have a narrow "V"-shaped snout and typically both their top and bottom teeth are visible when their jaws are shut. Adult alligators are primarily dark gray in color with a lighter-color underside, although juvenile alligators will have light-colored stripes on their sides for camouflage. American crocodiles are a brownish-gray color and are generally paler colored than alligators.

Alligators are found throughout the southeastern United States, including every county in Florida, and prefer freshwater lakes, slow-moving rivers and their associated wetlands; but can occasionally be found in brackish or saltwater. American crocodiles are found in tropical and subtropical coastal regions of the Americas, including the Caribbean, with the northern end of their range in southern Florida. They are primarily found in coastal brackish or saltwater ponds, coves and creeks, but are occasionally seen in inland freshwater areas due to the area's extensive canal system.

Alligator and crocodile behavior

While alligators and crocodiles tend to live in different water bodies, they share many of the same behaviors. For example, alligators and crocodiles will occasionally travel across land to get from one waterbody to another. When traveling on land, they are not actively hunting for prey.

Like alligators, crocodiles rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature. Crocodiles control their body temperature by basking in the sun with their mouths open, called "gaping," or moving to areas with warmer or cooler air or water temperatures.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) works to keep Floridians and visitors informed about alligators and crocodiles. Some ways to reduce conflict with alligators and crocodiles are:

• Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator or crocodile. If someone is concerned about an alligator or crocodile, they should call the FWC's toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286), to determine if a contracted nuisance alligator trapper will be dispatched to resolve the situation.
• Keep pets on a leash and away from the water's edge. Pets often resemble their natural prey.
• Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.
• Never feed an alligator or crocodile. It's illegal and dangerous. When fed, they can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food. This can lead to an alligator or crocodile becoming a nuisance and needing to be removed from the wild.

Find more resources about living with alligators and crocodiles and being GatorWise at MyFWC.com and Gatrowise.Org.