Alligator Warning Issued Amid Fears Reptiles Could Lurk in Floodwaters After Hurricane Idalia
Alligators may be hiding in floodwaters in residential areas in Florida as a result of Hurricane Idalia’s storm surges.
Idalia became a hurricane at roughly 5 a.m. ET on Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center, and is forecast to quickly strengthen into an extremely dangerous major storm before reaching landfall on Wednesday.
Sandbags have been filled by thousands of people over the course of days as they have fortified their homes against deadly winds in preparation for the hurricane’s arrival.
Experts have cautioned of the possibility of alligators hiding in floodwaters close to homes during surges, which are anticipated to reach heights of up to 11 feet in some sections of the state.
When a cyclone strikes, animals are just as likely to become disoriented and displaced as people are.
In order to prevent alligators from becoming more aggressive and defensive due to the storm’s disorientation, experts advise against walking into floodwaters.
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Alligators Seek Shelter During Hurricanes, But Humans May Be at Risk
Alligators, like other creatures, will hide and seek shelter when a hurricane is approaching, according to Frank Robb, who heads a nonprofit organization focused on alligator education and awareness.
During the storm itself, they might be able to reach deep water to escape everything. They travel and attempt to determine where to go when things often start happening after a storm when there is a lot of floodwater.
Robb also brought up the topic of how humans are encroaching more and more on their area. This problem is even worse during emergencies like extreme weather, which forces people into even more foreign land.
They are forced to leave the regions they have lived in for years when such flooding hits.
There are 1.3 million alligators in Florida. Although they don’t often attack people, they can become hostile if provoked or under stress. Due to the harsh weather, humans may be more at risk from the animals.
A 7-foot-long alligator bit a 79-year-old man last month as he was walking around a golf course in a neighborhood, according to authorities. At around five in the morning, the assault took place in Naples’ Forest Glen and Golf Course neighborhood.
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Source: Mirror
