As you know, Alligators are everywhere in Florida. Wherever there is a body of water, most likely it is a home for an alligator. Did you know that alligators are found in all sixty-seven counties of the state of Florida?
Florida continues to experience tremendous population growth. Over the past decade, Florida has seen more than 300,000 people relocate to Florida each year. Florida also has many lakes, streams, and rivers and most people desire to live near water. Many new home developments incorporate manufactured lakes and attempt to build near natural bodies of water. This situation can cause challenges and dangers between humans and alligators.
I am sure many of you who frequently visit construction sites have seen an alligator lurking in a near by water body. When we see an alligator on our construction site, this can create anxiety and fear resulting in our immediate desire to become overly cautious.
We have all heard that alligators have a natural fear of humans, and usually begin a retreat when approached by people. If you accidentally find yourself near an alligator on a construction sites, please back away slowly. It is extremely rare for wild alligators to chase you, but they can run up to thirty-five miles per hour for short distances on land.
Alligators are found mostly in freshwater environments such as swamps, wetlands, bogs, and rivers. It is common for them to venture into urban or developed areas and potentially coexist with human populations. It is important to understand that the presence of alligators in urban areas does not necessarily indicate an increase in alligator populations or pose an immediate threat to human safety. However, precautions should be taken to minimize potential conflicts.
On a typical construction site, it is common to encounter harmless animals while performing field stormwater inspections. However, it is particularly important to recognize there are animals that if provoked can be dangerous. An alligator is certainly an animal, if disturbed in their natural habitat, can become overly aggressive. If an encounter happens, the results can be serious or even deadly. KCI’s mission is to stay clear of all animals regardless of their reputation and stay safe while inspecting a construction site! Call us today, 888-346-7779.
