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“Gators”

Florida and the American alligators, commonly referred to as “gators”, have always been associated with each other; in fact, they have been declared as the official state reptile. You don’t have to venture far to find one. We have Gatorland just south of Orlando if you prefer to see them with a protective barrier, or if you want to take a walk on the wild side all you need to do is find your local watering hole.

Putting in the Rough

They can be seen lurking just below the waterline with nothing but their eyes and snout poking out, basking in all their glory on the shoreline, walking across the “15^th fairway” of the golf course and don’t forget about the everglades, a gators paradise. Nothing compares to the awe and terror that comes with seeing your first or your one millionth gator. 

American alligators are large reptiles that like to live near swamps, lakes, rivers, ponds and marshes. A famous nomenclature in Florida is, “if there is a body of water there is a gator in it.”

They prefer fresh water but can be seen venturing out locally to CRUISE COCOA in the brackish water of the Indian River Lagoon. 

How big can they get?

Full grown gators can reach between 8 ft and 11 ft on average with the largest rumored to have reached a length of 19ft. Their lifetime can span 50-70 years. Gators are recognized for having a broader snout than their cousin the crocodile.

At night when using a flashlight their eyes can reflect a red glow making them stand out in the dark. They have overlapping jaws that house between 74-80 teeth and the lower teeth fit into little hallows on the roof of the jaw.

Bite-sized

Gators have the strongest measured bite of any animal. Their diet varies as they grow starting off with small fish and working their way up to larger prey. While their bite is capable of killing humans, fatal attacks are rare.

Come join us at CRUISE COCOA and let our captains share our local knowledge.

Grab your Sunglasses and see what adventures await you!!!