Lastly, we provide guided kayak tours through the 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge and the Fakahatchee State Preserve just south of Naples and Marco Island. I know this has been a long article, but I wanted to make sure I covered everything I have learned about kayaking with alligators. Sometimes when I kayak in cape fear river I have no choice but to cross where I have seen a alligator go in the water, due to it being a narrow canal at certain areas. This park is located in Key Largo, where you can kayak and explore the wildlife of the coral reef. Wearing a life jacket can help you stay afloat if you fall in the water or your kayak overturns. As you might have already guessed, alligators like to sleep and they actually spend an average of 17 hours per day sleeping. This post may contain affiliate links. Can You Kayak While Pregnant? We try our best not to disturb them and have found the best way to keep them from entering the water is to not point your kayak directly at them and to utilize a smooth calm stroke. Just keep kayaking and stay alert. If you wonder where to kayak in Florida without alligators, you can take a look at the following list. The Wilderness Trail of the Suwannee River is a great place for kayaking. That makes Florida the only ecosystem in the world where alligators and crocodiles peacefully coexist. 10/22/2021. If you encounter an alligator, use your paddle as a defensive tool and quickly paddle away. As far as building confidence goes, I recommend booking a guided kayak tour there and look for a guide thats been doing it for a while. Bringing the fish in slower didnt make as much commotion on the top of the water, and often, the gators didnt know I was landing fish. Most often, we will enter the pond and spot one floating at the top, and as we get closer, they simply sink to the bottom and hope we pass by. As population and development has increased in Florida, scientists say, so too have alligator attacks. >> we were kayaking and a gator almost flipped us over. In addition, the river is free of alligators, so you can enjoy your time kayaking without worrying about running into any. Similarly, there are also some places you should avoid at all costs because of the high population of Alligators. Avoid kayaking in areas with known alligator populations, such as swamps, marshes, and ponds. We kayak very often right from our backyard and after the tropical storm the water was up the the top of our sea wall. There were lots of narrows, sharp turns, tall grass, cypress trees, tiny islands and thick clusters of water plants going through. Florida use code ONLINE10 at checkout for the lowest price guarantee. Always be aware of other nearby boats and vessels when youre out on your kayak. 3) Snorkel & Explore Dry Tortugas National Park. They want to eat, reproduce and maintain the proper body temperature. Though there's a certain level of risk involved with each outing, kayaking with alligators is safe if you remain alert. So, grab your paddle, and lets hit the water! Its helpful and reassuring to know how to respond should one occur. Copyright 2023 Just Go! Best places for kayaking in Florida. They make everything more difficult for you and us. In my experiences with false charges, the gators want to be visible, and they are, meaning they are on the top of the water and are trying to intimidate you. Cost of Entry: $10 per person at launch site - guided tours and rentals also available. The St. Johns River is an amazing place to go kayaking in Florida. seminole county deputies. The river is tidal from the Delaware Bay up through Trenton, so currents can be swift and strong. The Gator stare in Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia. Exceptions would include alligators that have become accustomed to being fed by people. Can You Sleep in a Kayak? If we werent, we would be kayaking in Maine. With that said, I still pay close attention when approaching that area. I had actually thought the noise was an old, maybe even exhaustless vehicle rattling on the highway . I use a hard plastic kayak. I maintained a steady paddle pace, but I also maintained eye contact through my sunglasses. All rights reserved, It makes total sense that our customers would be afraid of these normally docile animals. 3. It is not recommended for kayakers, as it can be dangerous to paddle amongst alligators. Mother alligators are dangerous to meddle with because they will attack anything or anybody that they see as a hazard to their babies. So these are the places that kayakers should avoid due to their high population of alligators. Locals can come to Haulover Canal to see manatees in the winter, and several tour groups offer manatee kayak tours including Get Up and Go Kayaking. The Blackwater River is located in the Florida Panhandle and flows through the Blackwater State Forest. Other animals, like snakes and birds, might also pose a danger, so its important to stay vigilant when paddling around them. Standard Alligator Behavior. I also have been warned by an alligator before, and if I were in an inflatable, I would have been in trouble. You just gave me all the information I was searching for. Besides, you will find plenty of areas to explore and admire the places natural beauty. So this is all about kayaking in Florida without Alligators. Slowly unzip your life jacket pocket, pull out your camera, and take a picture.. The last thing to consider is a cheaper and lightweight 10-footer that is easy to transport and wouldnt require much in terms of the carrying system. Most often, that gator is only inches below the surface. I had to change my tactics on landing them. Kayaking with Alligators is not 100% safe! What To Do If You See An Alligator While Kayaking? Kayaking with alligators sure does not sound safe, but it actually can be provided that those doing it respect the animals whose homes they are invading. Also, like you mentioned making noise does help, I like to bang my paddle shaft on the top of my kayak. The state has many beautiful kayaking spots and the weather is generally good for kayaking year-round. Yes, it is intimidating, but if you know how to react, you can stay safe. With all of the above information, we now better understand why an alligator might attack a kayaker. This also applies to alligator eggs. The alligators would begin to show up as soon as I began catching fish. Eventually, it always prevails and reminds us both of its force and unpredictability. Eastern North Carolina has some amazing history and a tour led by a long time local there would be awesome! As you may know, Florida is home to around 1.5 million alligators. It also messes with your ability to be aware of your surroundings. The Lake Kissimmee State Park is also a place that should be avoided due to its large population of alligators. My friend wasnt concerned and has paddled around gators before so I went with it. You can have a look at the top 17 bay kayaking destinations from here. Dinoflagellates emit glowing light through a chemical reaction, and lead to an amazing night time kayaking experience. Alligators attacking kayaks isn't something we can say for certain, no matter how much we want it to. Would the alligator consider my head turned toward it and my eye contact an aggressive action? Alligators are known to be more aggressive during mating season, which is April through June. However, as with any outdoor . 1- DO NOT FEED THEM For a good reason, it is restricted feeding alligators. Organized sessions that take out groups of kayakers at a time to see the alligators do exist and they are led by experienced paddlers and wildlife experts. Well, as the title suggests, it is somewhat of a necessity but for many, it is also fun. There are several places in Florida that you can safely kayak in that do not have any alligators. Do alligators flip kayaks? This is where we start to get into the scenarios when kayaking with alligators could be dangerous. Wear a life jacket! For this reason, it's important to be aware of areas where alligators are known to reside so that you can avoid them and stay safe while kayaking. Other kayakers have reported seeing odd-behaving alligators approaching their kayak as if expecting a hand-out. It makes total sense that our customers would be afraid of these normally docile animals. The heaviest Florida alligator weighed in at 1,043 lbs taken from Lake Dora. That is why many kayakers found out the hard way how dangerous alligators really are. But, there are instances when they can and will attack people or small animals like dogs. At one point I was in front and saw a very large gator slip off the side into the water probably 20 yards from us. Alligators have shorter and broader snouts than crocodiles. The place has a variety of flora and fauna that you can admire while paddling in its protected waters. Here, you can explore the estuarine waters of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge or take a guided river tour. If you click on our links, Just Go Family may receive a commission. 2) Train Like An Astronaut At The Kennedy Space Center. Im Jay Schwartz, the author here at Kayak Guidance! We actually stand up in them to spot the manatees. If an alligator cant internally regulate their body temp then how do they do it? If an alligator starts to associate people with a meal, then at that point, they can become dangerous. Now, the larger older alligators will start to eat larger prey such as smaller white-tail deer, but a gator that is eating deer is probably over 11 to 12 feet. You really cant beat the durability of a quality plastic rotomolded kayak made by Old Town or Wilderness Systems. If you are interested in seeing Comb jelly fish, they can be seen between November and May. The best way to avoid alligators is not to kayak in areas where they are present (such as the southern U.S.). All in all its best to keep as much distance as you can from them when you can help it. Here, you will find the fourth largest spring in Florida and enjoy paddling along its crystal-clear waters surrounded by wildlife. Doing it in one of Floridas 30,000 freshwater lakes is arguably the most authentic way as it is true wilderness. Analyzing crocodile and alligator attacks in the U.S. and Costa Rica But why do people willingly go kayaking, and for other activities, in the natural habitats of something as dangerous as gators? There are also experiences like kayaking with manatees, and bioluminescence tours that can only be experienced here. 1. That can be a difficult question to definitively answer, but overall, yes it is safe to kayak in Florida. Lots of boats going in and out to and from the boat launch. That information about other water hazards was VERY helpful. Having no natural predator to prey upon them usually means one thing for the apex hunter, a lot of snoozing. My first regular encounters with alligators started the summer after my junior year in college. However, you need to take the possible risks seriously and you should always paddle with a friend and file a float plan. We can see how the gators react underwater when we encounter them in our super clear ponds with sandy bottoms. 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