Three alligator attacks in Monroe County highlight Florida Keys risks

Three alligator attacks in Monroe County over the past couple of days have put a familiar Florida Keys hazard back at the center of public safety concerns. In a county threaded with canals, ponds and other waterfront edges, alligators live in all 67 Florida counties and can turn up in practically any fresh or brackish water body, and sometimes even in salt water.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission puts Florida’s average at about eight unprovoked alligator bites a year, even though the state has an estimated 1.3 million alligators. Serious incidents are rare. Spring and summer are when alligators typically breed, look for new habitats and nest, which can increase movement and territorial behavior around people and pets.

University of Florida researchers found that roughly 96% of Florida alligator attacks are tied to risky human behavior, not random aggression. Never feed alligators, keep pets on leashes and away from the water’s edge, and swim only in designated areas during daylight hours. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.

Monroe County and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office both maintain public information channels for alerts and emergency updates, including the county’s Alert Center and the sheriff’s active-calls page. The sheriff’s office official website and social channels carry the latest public-safety information. If a local alligator is threatening people, pets or property, the Nuisance Alligator Hotline is 866-FWC-GATOR, or 866-392-4286.