Is there any alligators in Key West?
The answer is yes, there are definitely alligators in the Florida Keys. The type of alligator present in the swamps, ponds, rivers, and lakes of the Keys is the common American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis).
Publishing the results in “Florida Field Naturalist,” Jacobsen found 133 living alligators; more than 50 of these were hatchlings or juveniles, thus demonstrating that the adults were reproducing in the area. Alligators of the Florida Keys most commonly inhabit freshwater habitats away from the coast.
“There have been crocodiles in the Keys for a long time. They're more common in the Upper Keys, but they have been spotted as far south as Big Pine Key and the Dry Tortugas,” said Lindsey Hord, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's crocodile response coordinator.
American saltwater crocs are increasingly common in the Keys and South Florida now that their populations have rebounded after almost going extinct in the 1970s. But the state wildlife police initiated a policy a few years ago to relocate ones that show they're not nervous about hanging around people.
Saltwater crocodiles are beginning to show up (especially on the bay side) in canals and on beaches from Key Largo all the way to Key West!
Yes, of course, Key West is an island in the ocean; there definitely would be sharks making their homes in the waters surrounding it. We, as people, are the ones who end up most encroaching upon the territories of the sharks. There are plenty of different shark species to find in the ocean of this area.
In other words, it's snake paradise. Of the 46 snake species native to Florida, almost half inhabit the Keys. Further, scientists have recently noted an influx of non-native invasive species.
Alligators are nocturnal, thus most active from dusk to dawn. Avoid being near the water's edge or swimming during this key feeding time.
Although many Floridians have learned to coexist with alligators, the potential for conflict always exists. Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, but if you are concerned about an alligator, call FWC's toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286.
A number of Burmese pythons have been found on Key Largo, and a few in the Lower Keys.
Are there scorpions in the Keys?
Scorpions! One of the creepier creatures you may encounter is one of several varieties of scorpions. And yes, scorpions can and will sting you, but the sting is similar to a bee sting and not deadly like western scorpions can be. Some homes and properties in the Keys seem more prone to scorpions than others.
The Keys don't have wide sandy beaches because the coral reefs we enjoy as snorkelers and scuba divers prevent the erosion and sand from building up along the shore. So while the beaches aren't what make the Keys special, there are still some pretty special beaches in the Keys.
Beautiful pond on Big Key. Yes the alligators collect around the viewing area. They must expect people to feed them.
Paradise has its problems, and homelessness in the Keys is one of them. While some transient people seek out the Keys' warm weather, many of Monroe County's homeless have lived here for years.
The other, a large adult that died after beaching itself near Mud Key, about 15 miles northeast of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, was found on Tuesday, according to state wildlife officials. The adult whale, a male, was towed to Robbie's Marina on Stock Island, just east of Key West.
The two species with the most well-known and documented reputation for preying on humans are the Nile crocodile and saltwater crocodile, and these are the perpetrators of the vast majority of both fatal and non-fatal crocodilian attacks.
The study revealed that baby saltwater crocodiles have the same level of aggressiveness as adults who spend their entire lives in the wild. According to biologist Matthew Brien, who led the research, “The saltwater crocodile has a reputation for being one of the most aggressive species in the world as an adult.”
There is the West Indian manatee, the African manatee, and the Amazonian Basin manatee. The specie that live in the waters around Key West is the West Indian Manatee. This particular breed likes warm, shallow water and can in fact die in water colder than 60 degrees.
In Key West, there has never been a fatal shark attack, and there's only been one incident reported in the record books since the 1800s.
Great whites in the Florida Keys can be a rare sight. The large migratory predators prefer cooler water and are just passing through when they're spotted in South Florida. But when they do show up, most anglers, divers and others on the water view it as a treat.
Are there tiger sharks in Key West?
They are not fast and will rarely chase their prey. Tiger sharks have been spotted and caught in the Florida Keys, and although they will rarely attack snorkelers or divers, they should not be provoked or tested as they have a tendency to be aggressive and are a powerful species.
They are more gray or dark brown, and secondly, black mambas do not live in Florida. Black mambas get their name from the black inside of their mouths, and they live in sub-Saharan Africa.
Regulatory Status. Green anacondas are not native to Florida and are considered an invasive species due to their impacts to native wildlife.
there will always be mosquitoes in Key West. There are even some out in the Dry Tortugas. I got the bites to prove it. There are also lots of other things that like to bite, like No-see-ums.
Running away is a good option and a distance of around 20 or 30 feet is usually all it takes to get safely away from an alligator. "They are not made for running after prey," he said. Making a lot of noise can also scare off a gator before any attack begins.
If you happen to lock eyes with an alligator on land, forget running in a zigzag. Run away as fast as you can in a straight line. Alligators will typically chase a human only to defend their territory.
With its jaw back open, that is your chance to escape. "Alligators clamp down with powerful jaws, then twist and roll. If an alligator bites your arm, it may help to grab the alligator and roll with it to reduce tearing of the arm," according to advice from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Some of the more popular areas in Central Florida that aren't occupied by alligators or sharks are freshwater spring-fed rivers. Some of these may include: Ichetucknee Springs, Madison Blue Spring, Withlacoochee, and Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail.
“Not to scare people, but there are over a million of them and they are all around.” Statewide, 6,700 nuisance alligators were killed or relocated in 2017. That increased to 7,114 last year, according to FWC data. Areas with the highest removals are in and around Tampa, Sarasota, Orlando, Fort Myers and Jacksonville.
It's never a good idea to get purposefully close to an alligator, tempt, or provoke it in any way. However, alligator attacks are fairly rare—and they eat people even less commonly. Only a small fraction of attacks are deadly, and often the remains are found intact after an attack.
Where can you see alligators in Key West?
Beautiful pond on Big Key. Yes the alligators collect around the viewing area. They must expect people to feed them.
American Alligators are very rare in the Keys since they do not like high salinity water. They are generally limited to the few islands here with permanent freshwater lakes such as Big Pine Key where the fresh/brackish water blue hole is, but our canals and beaches are too salty for them.
In other words, it's snake paradise. Of the 46 snake species native to Florida, almost half inhabit the Keys. Further, scientists have recently noted an influx of non-native invasive species.
Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, located at the north end of the Florida Keys, is home to many protected species including the American Crocodile.
