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Are there alligators in Florida?

Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.

On this page
  1. The answer
  2. More official answers
  3. Where in the US
  4. Lookalikes
  5. Official advice
  6. Sources

Yes.

Alligators live in Florida marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes and are found in all 67 counties; serious injuries are rare.

FWC: “Alligators have inhabited Florida's marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes for many centuries, and are found in all 67 counties.” Source

How we answer questions

  • Are there crocodiles in Florida?

    Yes. American crocodiles live mainly in south Florida and the Keys in brackish and saltwater areas; the Florida population is federally threatened. FWC

Where the American alligator lives in the US

Texas: on an official sourceGeorgia: on an official sourceTennessee: on an official sourceLouisiana: on an official sourceFlorida: on an official sourceArkansas: on an official sourceNorth Carolina: on an official sourceOklahoma: on an official sourceSouth Carolina: on an official sourceAlabama: on an official source
Official presence. 10 states where a state list or official source names it. Gray means no official record in our data, not that it is absent.
  • Native or listed
  • Nonnative or not established
  • No official record in our data
Texas: 1,576 recordsGeorgia: 509 recordsLouisiana: 804 recordsNew York: 1 recordFlorida: 5,112 recordsOhio: 1 recordArkansas: 25 recordsMississippi: 122 recordsNorth Carolina: 33 recordsOklahoma: 5 recordsSouth Carolina: 1,114 recordsAlabama: 88 records
Observation records. Open-licence records on GBIF in 12 states. Records are sightings people shared, not confirmation that a population lives there.
  • 1–9
  • 10–99
  • 100–999
  • 1,000+

American alligator: identification, range and danger

What else it could be

  • American crocodile
    Photo: Dennis Vollmar · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

    American crocodile

    Crocodile: lighter grayish-green skin, narrow tapered triangular snout, fourth lower tooth visible with the mouth closed, and mostly coastal brackish or salt water in south Florida. Alligator: darker, broad rounded snout, mostly fresh water.

  • Spectacled caiman
    Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized

    Spectacled caiman

    USGS: the common (spectacled) caiman's snout is not as broad and round as the American alligator's, and unlike the alligator it has a unique bony ridge in front of and between the eyes.

What official sources advise

  • Never feed an alligator, keep your distance, swim only in designated areas in daylight, keep pets leashed and away from water. FWC
  • If you are concerned about an alligator or crocodile, call the FWC Nuisance Alligator Hotline 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). FWC
  • Alligator courtship begins in early April; mating in May or June; nesting late June/early July; hatching mid-August to early September. FWC

Other questions about Florida

Sources

  1. Living with Alligators. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). archived copy, captured October 25, 2026; checked November 3, 2026. Archived copy.
    Quoted passages (3)
    “Alligators have inhabited Florida's marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes for many centuries, and are found in all 67 counties.”
    “Remember, never feed an alligator and keep your distance if you see one. Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours. And keep pets on a leash and away from the water.”
    “…if you are concerned about an alligator, call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286.”
  2. Alligator Facts. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). archived copy, captured September 1, 2026; checked November 3, 2026. Archived copy.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Courtship begins in early April, and mating occurs in May or June.”
  3. American Crocodile. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). archived copy, captured September 5, 2026; checked November 3, 2026. Archived copy.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “American crocodiles live in coastal areas throughout the Caribbean and occur at the northern end of their range in south Florida and the Keys.”