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The Villages
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Drought forcing alligators onto roadways creating dangerous situations for drivers

Andrea Moeller was driving to her home in the Village of Fernandina late Thursday night when she spotted something unusual in the roadway.

“It looked like a green garbage bag. I could only see his width as I approached. I didn’t realize what it was until I was passing him,” she said.

It was a large alligator in the southbound lanes of Morse Boulevard near the entrance to the Village of Osceola Hills.

Andrea Moeller spotted this alligator on Morse Boulevard, near the entrance to the Village of Osceola Hills.
Andrea Moeller spotted this alligator on Morse Boulevard, near the entrance to the Village of Osceola Hills.

We are seeing more alligators on the roadways right now.

This past week there were two alligator-involved accidents in Hillsborough County:

Jennifer Rosinski shot this photo of an alligator she hit on Interstate 75.
Jennifer Rosinski shot this photo of an alligator she hit on Interstate 75.

Jennifer Rosinski, 34, of Cooper City lost control of her SUV after hitting a nine-foot alligator Tuesday on Interstate 75. Her vehicle rolled over multiple times, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The mother of four escaped with bruises and a cut under her right eye. The alligator died.

A 27-year-old motorcyclist was airlifted to a Tampa hospital after striking an alligator early Friday morning. Calun Ethan Nelson of Wimauma had been riding a 2016 Suzuki  GSX-S motorcycle at 12:28 a.m. when he struck the 10-foot alligator which was crossing State Road 674, according to FHP. Nelson, who had been wearing a helmet, was thrown from the motorcycle and it landed on the overpass for the Little Manatee River. He was flown to Tampa General Hospital having suffered serious injuries. That alligator also died.

So why are so many alligators on the roadways?

Local trappers say it’s the drought. The alligators are thirsty and searching for water.

Strong alligators are forcing the weaker ones out of the ponds and lakes which have been shrinking due to the drought. It’s a matter of survival.

The alligator mating season is also drawing to a close in Florida. You can read more about mating season HERE   

There are an estimated 1.3 million alligators in Florida.

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