Swamp Blog
Every April, gator mating season commences in Florida. It is a time for the denizens of the swamp to reproduce, and it also is a great time for a private Everglades airboat tour.
“Living in Florida means we share the state with an estimated 1.3 million alligators,” WFTS-TV reports. And during their annual mating season, those gators tend to be easier to see. That’s because they are more active than normal.
Alligator Mating Rituals
During gator mating season, males looking for females release a guttural growl that literally can be heard for miles. In preparation for the call, they puff themselves full of air, similar to inflating a balloon, which causes them to rise to the surface and become more visible to someone on a private airboat tour.
“This lifts their body high in the water,” explains a Florida for Families article. “Then, they raise their heads and tails and let out a deep and low bellow. It sounds like a growling rumble. And the water around them will vibrate with the sound.”
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:
- Courtship usually begins in April but mating might not happen until in May or June.
- It is the warmer spring weather that lets alligators know it is time to get busy.
- Those rising temperatures increase the alligator’s metabolism, that means in addition to a mate, they will also be actively seeking prey.
- Alligators can often be spotted basking in the sun, they are cold blooded reptiles so that’s how they regulate their body temperature.
It is very important to note that alligators can display aggressive behavior during mating season. You should never approach an alligator in the Florida Everglades. They are dangerous wild animals, but this time of year, you should take particular caution.
If you would like to experience gator mating season with a professional captain aboard an airboat in Fort Lauderdale, pick a time and a date and contact us to schedule it. If you want to see alligators, a tour from Fort Lauderdale is a great option.