Swimmers at Sanibel Island got an unexpected neighbor last Friday when a five-foot alligator was spotted in the water alongside beachgoers — and later strolling along the seashell-covered sand near Shalimar Resort. Video captured by a beachgoer shows the reptile's head breaking the surface of the water, with swimmers visible not far away.
While alligators are a known presence on Sanibel Island, they tend to stick to freshwater environments like lakes and ponds. Chris Lechowicz, a herpetologist with the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, confirmed the sighting and offered a likely explanation for the gator's saltwater detour: alligators will occasionally venture into the Gulf to shed leeches from their skin. "They go and spend a little bit of time in the saltwater, and all that stuff will fall off," he said.
Beachgoers who witnessed or heard about the sighting took it largely in stride — with a healthy dose of Florida pragmatism. Visitor Samantha Inerfeld summed up the mood well: "I think I would be a little scared, but it is Florida, and there are alligators."
If you spot an alligator that concerns you, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission asks that you never approach or feed it — doing so is both dangerous and illegal. Concerned residents or visitors can reach FWC's Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). This story was originally reported by Gulf Coast News Now.
