Page 7 - Abacoa Community News - September '22

Abacoa, Page 7
Northern Notes

Alligators – One Of Florida’s one of Florida’s most misunderstood animals and learning
a little more about them may help humans and alligators
Most Misunderstood Animals continue to coexist. Here are some important facts and tips
to consider while living with alligators:
By Katie Roundtree, • Be aware in or near water. Never let pets or children
Director of Finance and near water unsupervised. Swim in designated swimming
Administration, Northern areas only. Never go into the water between dusk and dawn
Palm Beach County when alligators are most active. Ninety percent of attacks
Improvement District occur on persons wading or swimming at the water’s edge
Did you know that your where alligators can lunge at prey approaching the water.
chance of being attacked Be careful around heavy vegetation at the water’s edge
by an alligator is about 1 where alligators are known to lie in the daytime.
in 24 million, while your at 1.3 million alligators of every size. They are found in • Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge.
chance of winning the freshwater lakes, ponds, swamps and slow-moving rivers Never let pets swim in undesignated areas, even for a short
Florida Lottery is about 1 in all 67 counties in Florida. time, since they often resemble alligators’ natural prey.
in 23 million – one million Alligators are an integral part of Florida’s ecosystem • Be cautious during warmer months. Alligator mating
times better?* The American alligator, Florida’s state and play a significant part in the ecology of our wetlands. season is between May and September. During this time
reptile, is a conservation success story. Florida has a Alligators have an important role in the food chain and male alligators are more aggressive and female alligators
healthy and stable alligator population, which is estimated help keep other animal populations in balance. They are are protective of nests. Seventy-five percent of alligator
attacks occur during May through September.

• Never approach an alligator or alligator nest.
Town Of Jupiter News Alligators approached by humans may become alarmed,
think that they are being threatened and defend themselves.
Alligator mothers are known to be fearless when protecting
By Malise Sundstrom, 1. Each household in the town will receive a their nest or babies.
Jupiter Town Councilor 64-gallon garbage cart that has a lid and is easy to roll • Never feed or entice an alligator to approach you.
Across south Florida, out for automated waste collection. A larger 96-gallon Not only is this dangerous, it is also illegal. Alligators
local governments and their cart may be requested, or an additional cart may be who have been fed by humans cannot differentiate one
residents and businesses are purchased if residents need more capacity. Once the human from another and may charge unsuspecting humans
having to contend with 40- new cart is received, old containers may be used for looking for a free meal. Even worse, if other alligators
year inflation, supply chain yard waste or recycled. Carts will be uniform in shape see this feeding, they may join the first alligator and copy
impacts, labor shortages, and color, thereby improving the appearance of our the behavior. Be careful feeding ducks, turtles or fish as
and more. At the Town of neighborhoods. alligators may be lurking nearby. Dispose of fish scraps
Jupiter, we are seeing fewer 2. Automated garbage trucks equipped with a lifting leftover from fishing in garbage cans at boat ramps and fish
firms bidding on contracts, mechanism on the side will pick up new carts and empty camps. Do not throw them into the water. You may not be
and bids are often higher the contents into the truck. In Abacoa, a semi-automated intentionally feeding alligators, but the result is the same.
(or the level of service is lower) than what was originally service featuring smaller trucks using a hydraulic Report illegal feeding or enticing to local authorities.
estimated. Despite these challenges, the town is working “tipper” will be used. This type of service stabilizes • Contact authorities if you suspect that an alligator
hard to negotiate and secure the best possible rates and levels costs and makes the collection service more efficient. may pose danger. Contact Florida Fish & Wildlife
of service for residents. 3. Waste must be placed in the provided garbage Conservation Commission (FWC) at (866) FWC-
This is why my colleagues and I recently approved carts in order to be picked up. Because the carts are GATOR, (866) 392-4286. Usually alligators under 4 feet
the award of an eight-year franchise agreement to Waste specially designed to work with the automated and semi- in length pose little to no danger, but if an alligator of
Management. This contractor has served the town of Jupiter automated collection trucks, garbage set out in bags or any size shows signs of potential conflict with humans,
for decades, but the specter of a rate hike coupled with fewer in noncompliant bins will not be collected. then contact the authorities. FWC agents investigate an
pickups upon a five-year renewal led the town to put the 4. In the new agreement, Waste Management will average of 16,000 complaints annually. Not all of these
contract out for bid. Upon the completion of this public process collect yard waste in excess of eight cubic yards on the complaints turn out to be aggressive alligators. The
with three competitive bids, Waste Management won the customer’s next scheduled collection day (not before); FWC places the highest priority on public safety and
award with a rate nearly half that of the second lowest bidder eight cubic yards at a time, until completely collected. administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program
and with the same number of regular pickups each week. 5. Waste Management will assign a customer service (SNAP). The goal of SNAP is to proactively address
While the company and number of regular pickups will representative to work at the town’s offices during the alligator threats in developed areas, while conserving
remain the same, residents can expect a few big changes, first month of collections. This service representative alligators in areas where they naturally occur.
largely as a result of collections becoming an automated or will assist in addressing any resident concerns. Alligators less than 4 feet in length are not large enough
semi-automated service. Here is what to expect before the The town will be sending out information on the new to be dangerous to people or pets, unless handled. You
new program begins on March 1, 2023: service in the coming weeks. should never handle an alligator, even a small one, because
it is illegal and alligator bites can result in serious infection.
If there’s an alligator under 4 feet in your swimming pool,
on your porch or in a similar situation, call the Nuisance
Susan Has Moved To A Alligator Hotline at (866) FWC-GATOR, (866) 392-4286.
• Create a barrier on your property if you live near the

water’s edge. The most effective measure is installation of a
New Location! wall, fence or vegetation buffer. Any construction or planting
like these discourages a larger, more dangerous, alligator from
entering the area. These are not foolproof by any means since
Androcles Hair Salon alligators have been known to climb chain-link fences. For
these types of fences, a metal overhang of at least 20 inches
in depth with a minimum angle of 45 degrees should be
4031 Hood Rd., Suite C-108 installed at the top to prevent a climbing alligator from
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 scaling over the fence.
Remember, your chances of being attacked by an alligator
Susan are very small and using your common sense and tips from
this article, alligators and humans can live together safely.
Alligators are an important part of Florida’s natural history
Swafford as well as an integral component of aquatic ecosystems.

For more information go to www.myfwc.com or www.
NPDES tip: Planting a rain garden with native plants
crocodopolis.net.
561-312-0457 somewhere around your home helps lock rainwater in the
ground, reducing the flow of pollutants and poisons into
the drains. Using organic fertilizers and pesticides in your
10% all the species living there.
garden further protects and brings health to your yard and
*Sources: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation

OFF Commission and Florida Lottery.

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