It's alligator mating season in Florida, so expect more neighborhood gator sightings
Alligator sightings are on the rise in Florida.
They have been seen in neighborhoods, on golf courses, and near local lakes and ponds.
So why are we having more close-up encounters with these reptiles? It's alligator mating season.
Alligator sighting in SWFL: Golfer shoots video of large gator at Stoneybrook Golf Club in Estero
New neighbor: Trapper shoots, kills 8-foot alligator that wandered into Deltona backyard
See you later: Palm Coast gator gets new home after showing up at apartment door
When is alligator mating season?
The courtship between alligators begins in early April, while the official mating season occurs during the months of May and June, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Female alligators deposit their eggs in late June or early July, FWC notes, and the eggs hatch around August or September each year.
FWC states that alligators tend to become more active during the warmer months when the temperatures are between 82 and 92 degrees.
According to wildlife officials, the reptiles are most active between dusk and dawn.
How many alligators are in Florida?
Florida has about 1.3 million alligators, according to data from the FWC.
American alligators are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Alligators can be harvested through Florida's harvesting program. The statewide alligator hunting season begins August 15 and ends November 1. Hunters must have a permit in order to participate.
Recently: Large alligator spotted on Venice home's front lawn
More: Injured 10-foot-8 alligator captured near 15th tee at Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club
Recent close-up encounters with alligators
» A large alligator was spotted walking through a neighborhood in Venice near Harrington Lake on Easter Sunday. The alligator was estimated to be at least 10-foot long.
» Trappers removed an injured 10-foot-8 alligator from a pond at the Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club. The 300-pound male gator has lived on or near the course for at least a year.
» A woman and her foursome were playing golf at the Stoneybrook Golf Club when she spotted a large alligator crossing the fairway. The alligator went right past the golf ball in the middle of the fairway and just kept going.
» An alligator has a new home after it showed up uninvited at the front door of an apartment complex in Town Center in Palm Coast. The caller originally reported the gator was in the driveway, but the animal made its way up the driveway at some point and was hanging around the front door of the residence.
» Cape Coral police helped capture an unwanted guest from a neighborhood in the early hours of Easter Sunday morning — a 10-foot-alligator. Officers were able to safely relocate the gator.
» An alligator running loose wreaked havoc in Naples. The reptile was spotted at a nearby Taco Bell. The gator then began to move toward a nearby Target store one block over, said Michelle Batten, spokesperson for the Collier County Sheriff's Office.
» An 8-foot alligator was spotted wandering into a backyard in Deltona. Firefighters called Animal Control but the alligator was too large to capture and relocate. A state-licensed alligator trapper arrived at the scene and killed the alligator.
How to report nuisance alligators
According to the FWC, it is rare for an alligator to seriously injure a human. Officials recommend that if you come in contact with an alligator, keep your distance and do not feed it.
A toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline (866-392-4286) is available for those who have seen or are concerned about an alligator in their area.
Victoria Brown is a digital producer for USA TODAY Network's Florida region. Contact Victoria at vbrown1@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Alligators in Florida: Close up encounters due to gator mating season
