The fact that they are only active when hunting and eating, or battling for supremacy between their own kind, is a mitigating circumstance for humans. That said, my neighbors kids swim in the one behind our house with no ill effects. I wondered if it's worth it Hi, my name is Marty. The best way to avoid alligators is not to kayak in areas where they are present (such as the southern U.S.). Leave the pets at home, dont kayak when gators are active, avoid feeding alligators, and be prepared to make a lot of loud noise if a gator gets too close. If an alligator swims towards your kayak, point the end of the kayak towards it and back-paddle away. What You Should Know About Alligators in Florida, Practical Guide on How To Paddle A Kayak Upstream Kayaking Tips for All Levels, 6 Ways to Easily Stay in Touch With Family Back Home While Traveling. Throughout the state, you can take your pick on what type of kayaking will suit you best. 
Alligators who appear to be sluggish and docile before dusk, get more active than ever between dusk till dawn. Mating season is the leading cause of territorial alligators especially males. Actively Outdoor is dedicated to delivering actionable tips and information when it comes to enjoying the outdoors. The best rule of thumb when spotting an alligator is to stay away from it. Some encounters with alligators happen at day while most instances are at dusk, night time, or dawn. Then, of course, they blame it on the animal and call the area alligator-infested waters. This makes sure that the predators will not snatch their eggs. That can be a difficult question to definitively answer, but overall, yes it is safe to kayak in Florida. Dont go out of your way though. They generally acquire a sit-and-wait strategy. Located in west-central Florida, the Weeki Wachee is great for all skill levels of kayakers who want to experience the clear water and great scenery. This way, you can make the most out of your trip and have a wonderful experience reconnecting with nature. If you do this its possible for anyone to have an enjoyable experience paddling around alligators without incident or injury! 
If you happen to bump into one, that would really irritate the gator. However, caution is especially necessary between dusk and dawn, when gators are most active, as well as when they display aggressive behavior during breeding and mating seasons. Those that dont may have fatally broken bones from the force of the gators jaw, which has very powerful muscles. Its best to avoid paddling at these times, because the chances of being attacked by an alligator are higher. Will Alligators attack a kayak? The Atchafalaya Basin swamp, in New Orleans, is also a notorious alligator habitat. Thinking of all the precautions, youve brought water for hydration, sunblock for skincare, and bug repellant for all the insects that abound. Make it a point to apply these tips to stay safe and eliminate any risks during your kayaking trip. For starters, you should always check for actual safety signs, local laws and guidelines before you enter the water. This action should scare away the alligator while allowing you to escape and paddle away quickly. Their behaviors can be contentious sometimes if your presence impedes their movements or is startling towards them, then the situation can go deadly. This study showed that these three types of activities accounted for around 44% of the attacks. You may be wondering is it safe to kayak in Florida? These safe spots are perfect for a peaceful paddle without having to worry about safety. Do not try to hit the gator with your kayak paddle, though. So far, in 2020, theres been one reported alligator death in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Alligators have a very good sense of smell and the odor of a dog is vastly different from a human. Try once to follow all the tips that particularly are rules to them, and witness the behavior they show, that might your companions do not believe if you tell them later. Read More How To Use A Kayak Cart? 
If youre one of them, you have to take extra precautions when fishing in gator country. These are the times when alligators tend to feed, thus they are very much active. You can use the paddle to hit your kayak as a way to create loud noise, as well as creating vibrations in the water, which is sensitive to them. How To Use A Kayak Cart? After all, alligators can sometimes seem lethargic, but this creates a false sense of security in humans. The diet of an alligator consists of worms, crustaceans, snails, insects, and fish when theyre younger. We dont use others reviews for any purpose. However, they seem to exhibit quite territorial behavior, which means they do not have direct encounters with kayakers and they will often choose to stay in their places. Startron Vs Stabil: Which Fuel Stabilizer Is Worth Getting? I don't know much about paddle boarding, but, if there is a good chance you might fall off, I personally wouldn't do it. Lastly, do not enter the water if you are in an area where sharks are known to be present. Families with young children also go to Florida to go kayaking and canoeing. In fact, the water stays at 72 degrees at all times throughout the year, which if youre wondering what the perfect water temperature is for kayaking, this would be it. By following the tips and instructions we have highlighted above you will get to know that these gators are not as frightful and terrifying as it seems. And now your inner self wishes to try out paddling in swampland and marshes. Sometimes, these bodies of water can be shallow, making it easier for you to hit your boat into a gator without meaning to. Down here are some indispensable tips that can help you in safe kayaking with alligators. Home Tips & Advice Kayaking with Alligators Is it really dangerous? Additionally, try to avoid having multiple kayaks pointing at an alligator from different angles (like when you might be taking photographs of alligators lying in the sun). If youre not commandeering the kayak and you can snap a photo of the gator quickly (without flash and by muting your phone), then so be it. Insider Information You Should Know. Although attacks by these animals on kayakers are very rare, they do happen, so its important for paddlers to keep a safe distance. If you can choose your schedule for exploring the waters, always stick to mid-day or early afternoon. Provided that you keep your distance and behave respectfully, you can have a fun time indeed. Turtles, herons, many birds, and even alligators inhabit the area. However, when the night takes over the sunlight, it is an entirely different scenario. So grab your kayak and explore Floridas waterways today! Similarly, male alligators are very aggressive during mating season, which is another time when fights are more likely to occur. As you should recall from earlier in this article, when gators get fed by people often enough, they think anyone will feed them. Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail is an inshore saltwater paddling area that is very much safe for kayakers or adventurers to visit. (Read This First). That said, you have to use your head when kayaking. If you travel quickly and determinedly while giving a gator plenty of space, we see little reason there should be even so much as an encounter between man and animal. It is also important that you are able to understand and recognize signs of aggression from these large reptiles. In Florida, there are quite a number of crocodiles found in the extreme southern portion. While the odds of an alligator attacking a kayaker are extremely low, paddling in areas where theyre native comes with some risk. If you should encounter an alligator, try to stay calm and keep your distance. With everything above being said, why is kayaking with alligators so frowned upon then and why is the whole debate of whether it is fun, dangerous, or necessary? Even overnight accommodations can be found along the Wilderness River Trail through the eight park hubs that line the river. Hi, Im Randy R. Lios and the owner of Floating Kayaks. There may not be any alligators nearby but drowning can be another concern in the deep waters. If you spot sharks, head back to shore. With all of the above information, we now better understand why an alligator might attack a kayaker. Plus, youd have to stop your kayak to take the photos or video, and thats again very much not recommended. Quick answer yes, the better answer is most likely no. At the take-out point, located at Wayside Park, there are restrooms and an outfitter available. The river will eventually meet with the Suwanee River after flowing through various swamps and wooded areas. Once night falls, thats prime gator time, as is dusk and dawn. WebYes, it is generally safe to kayak in Florida. If this occurs, take it as a warning and back up immediately. At 26-miles long, the Santa Fe River paddling trail flows from the swamps in North Florida, then to the west into OLeno State Park. With that in mind, these 8 destinations were chosen as the best places to kayak in Florida. Since the fact of protecting them makes them even agitated, thus the idea of visiting the alligators in this season is complete claptrap.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'floatingkayaks_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_8',117,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-floatingkayaks_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); The same gesture goes for baby alligators if you are about to visit them. The gator is telling you he feels threatened and will act very shortly. WebMost alligators that slip into the water ahead of the arrival of a kayak are taking refuge on the river or lake bottom until the hazard passes. You must move away from that alligator as quickly as possible as they are very fast animals.Lastly, alligators typically feed during dusk and dawn and are more active. The bigger question is, what do I do if an alligator approaches me? Most importantly, you need to have your personal floatation device on you at all times. With these choices, Florida should definitely make any kayakers list of places to paddle. Wildlife can include plenty of turtles, deer along the shore, and even an alligator or two. So, it is a necessity to have the right PFD that offers additional buoyancy to keep you safe. Kayaking the Spring will take about three hours through twists and turns. If at all possible, the best thing to do is avoid kayaking where you know alligators are present. If you see an alligator, do not feed it. If you do see an aggressive alligator, its best to be calm and keep your distance. Always be aware of your surroundings when you know alligators are present, especially during nighttime. There is no doubt that Florida is a gorgeous place to go kayaking. The same is true of an alligator. Florida is a beautiful place where sun, sand, and surf all meet. Although, there is a limited amount, so getting there early to grab a kayak is important. In adulthood, a gator can easily take down deer, birds, muskrats, coypus, turtles, and gar, which is a large species of fish. Everything You Need To Know. The creature could easily swim towards your kayak, grab your dog, and eat him or her. If making the return trip up the river, the paddling can be a little more difficult against the current, but its manageable. Even in your kayak, you dont really scare an alligator. There are plenty of beautiful kayaking destinations in the U.S. where there are no alligators. 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