Do you live in an area that has alligators? It can be scary to spot a gator in your area, and it’s certainly wise to stay as far away from it as possible.
Some people have problems with gators getting into their ponds. If you notice an alligator in your pond, you’re going to be concerned.
How do alligators travel from pond to pond anyway? You know that gators can move fast in the water, but they’re not so quick on land.
Continue reading to learn how alligators travel to different bodies of water. You’ll also get some related information that will help you to cope with them being in the area.
How Gators Travel
Alligators are capable of moving very fast in the water. It’s said that an alligator in the water can swim at speeds up to 20 MPH.
When traveling on land, however, they’re nowhere near that fast. Most would say that alligators are awkward when moving around outside of water.
They aren’t nearly as graceful when traveling on land. So how do alligators get from one body of water to the next?
Even if gators can’t move as fast outside of water, they’re still going to be able to travel on land. They prefer to travel through the water when possible, but they will walk on land to seek out different environments sometimes.
When running, an alligator can reach speeds of 11 MPH. They have a hard time running straight due to how much they weigh, and they can’t run for long periods.
An alligator can move across land to reach a pond. The gator might start in one pond or lake and then move to another body of water when it can’t find any more food.
Why Do Alligators Enter Ponds?
You’ll find that alligators enter new ponds to look for food. Whenever alligators are roaming around, they’re going to be looking for a meal.
Many ponds attract waterfowl, and alligators feed on these birds. A gator might want to enter a pond simply to get an opportunity to feast on birds that go to the pond.
This is all quite natural, and you can expect gators to enter various bodies of water. People have even seen alligators get into swimming pools and other artificial bodies of water.
Of course, it can be frustrating to live in an area that has alligators. Some areas are worse than others when it comes to having high alligator populations.
How to Keep Alligators Out of Your Pond
There are a few things you can try that will help to keep alligators out of your pond. First, you should consider building a fence around the pond.
Birds will still be able to use the pond as usual because they can fly. Alligators won’t have an easy time getting through a fence that’s built sturdy enough.
Also, a gator is more likely to seek out a body of water that’s easy to get to. If the pond is surrounded by a strong fence, the gator is likely to give up on the location.
Another option involves planting vegetation on the edge of the pond. Gators like to sun at the edge of ponds, but having vegetation at the edge of the pond will prevent them from being able to do this.
Some people even plant bushes on the edges of their ponds. This can help, but it can also limit your view of the pond, which might be counterproductive.
You could also try spraying alligator repellent near the pond area. There aren’t any commercial alligator repellent products, but people often make homemade repellents.
Homemade alligator repellent can be made using ammonia and human urine. There are other alligator-repellent recipes out there, but this is a simple one to make that seems to get decent results.
How Dangerous Are Alligators?
You should respect the danger that alligators present. However, you should know that alligators don’t typically attack humans for no reason.
Often, alligators will attempt to get away when they’re approached by people. If possible, the alligator will try to disappear into the water.
You should never approach an alligator, though. Alligators are extremely dangerous and could kill you if you provoke them.
Alligators will attack humans if they’re threatened or if they feel that they need to defend their young. So the best course of action is to stay far away from alligators.
If you see a gator in your pond, you can call local animal control officials for help. They should be able to send someone out to your location and get the issue taken care of.
Final Thoughts
Now you know that alligators can travel from pond to pond by simply walking. A gator can travel on land and will sometimes walk from one pond to another when it needs to look for food.
These creatures do prefer to travel in the water since they move much faster in water than they do on land. Even so, gators can travel by walking and running when necessary.
Take steps to keep alligators out of your pond if possible. If you see a gator on your property, go back inside and stay away from it just to be safe.
You can always call animal control officials to get help. Alligators don’t go around attacking humans for no reason, but they’re dangerous enough that you need to stay away from them.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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