Most Alligator Infested Lakes In Florida
Have you ever wondered what are the most alligator infested lake in Florida? A-Z Animals put together a list to educated and inform readers about how infested the lakes in Florida are. There are more then 1 million alligators living in the state of Florida. They are all over the state in and out of different lakes. The rule is: If there is a body of water in Florida, there is an alligator in it. A-Z Animals made a list of the 30 most alligator infested lakes in Florida. The purpose of the list is to inform and warn everyone about the dangers of going into lakes and ponds in Florida. It is best to stay clear of bodies of water. Some waterways, however, house more alligators than others.
The largest lake in Florida is Lake Okeechobee located in Glades, Hendry, Martin, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties. So large it is 730 square miles. It houses the most alligators in the state. There is an estimated 9,308 alligators living in Lake Okeechobee. Wow. That is a lot. There is no reason for you or your animals to be swimming on playing in that lake with all those alligators living in it.
There is only one lake between Pinellas and Hillsborough county that made the top 30 list. Lake Seminole in Pinellas County comes in at number 20 on the list with 238 alligators.
Top 10 Most Infested Lakes In Florida
- Lake Okeechobee – 9,308
- Orange Lake – 2,732
- Lake George – 2,660
- Lake Jesup – 2,414
- Lake Kissimmee – 2,065
- Lake Istokpoga – 1,321
- Lake Hatchineha – 1,287
- Kenansville Lake – 1,188
- Lake Rousseau – 708
- Newnan’s Lake – 657
You can check out the entire list HERE
In the state of Florida, it’s illegal to kill or harass an alligator without a permit. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also advises citizens not to bother or feed them.
Anyone with concerns about an alligator should call the Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).
The 5 Most Dangerous Animals In Florida
There are a lot of dangerous animals in Florida. But if you ever wondered what the most dangerous are? This list was put together by A-Z Animals. Between 1999 and 2019 only 247 people in Florida died as a result of an animal attack. Florida ranks as the third deadliest state in the United States for animal attacks. Texas is number one with 520 and California is number two with 299. Those findings come from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
So, what is the first animal that you think of when you think dangerous in Florida? You probably think of the Alligator, but that isn’t the number one overall dangerous animal in Florida. The Great White Shark is the most dangerous animal in Florida. While not on the land in Florida Great White Sharks swim the waters around the state of Florida. Back in 2020 Florida had 16 shark bites on record. Second was Hawaii with only five.
The Most Dangerous Animals Not In The Top 5
The dangerous animals in Florida that didn’t make the top five are some that you may have thought could’ve been higher. Firstly, number six on the list is the Black Widow Spider followed by the Florida Panther. The Florida Panther is the state animal. It was chosen in 1982 by a vote of students throughout the state. Following the Florida Panther on the list is the Wild Boar. You can find the Wild Boar in all 67 counties of Florida. Their estimated population is over half a million.
Next is the Timber Rattlesnake. It is also known as the canebreak rattlesnake and it is a species of pit viper. The Timber Rattlesnake has a Chevron pattern and a stripe running down its body. Finally, coming in number 10 on the list is the American Crocodile. They are found along the coast of Florida as north as the Hillsborough/Pasco County border on the west side of Florida.
Below, you can find the top five most dangerous animals in Florida.
Great White Shark
Yes, Great White Sharks are found in the waters around Florida. A almost 1,200 pound shark that was almost 13 feet in length was tracked back in March of this year.
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Bull Shark
#1 and #2 on the list are sharks. They are in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. They grow to about 11 feet and can live about 24 years.
Alligator
Alligators live in all 67 counties in Florida. You can find alligators in any body of water including lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, swamps and man-made canals.
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Eastern Dimondback Rattlesnake
They are found in pine flatwoods, longleaf pine and turkey oak hammocks, sand pine scrub areas, and coastal barrier islands. Yes it is venomous.
Cottonmouth Snake
It is venomous and can be found throughout Florida. It is called a cottonmouth because of the white color of the inside of its mouth.
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