As summer approaches, countless Americans are gearing up for a magical getaway at Walt Disney World. In response, officials are heightening safety measures by continuing the removal of hundreds of alligators from the area.
This safety initiative follows a tragic incident a decade ago when a young child was fatally attacked by an alligator at the Disney Resort and Spa in Orlando, Florida. Since then, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has successfully removed more than 400 alligators from Disney properties.
According to WDW News Today, a leading source for Disney Park updates, a total of 414 alligators have been relocated in the ten years following the tragic event.
The FWC targets alligators over four feet in length, which are deemed potentially dangerous to people, pets, or property. These animals qualify for removal by licensed trappers to ensure public safety.
Smaller alligators generally do not pose a significant threat to humans or pets unless provoked. The FWC advises against handling these creatures, as doing so not only risks serious injury or infection but is also illegal.
Trappers do not relocate alligators because they often try to return to the location where they were captured.
In addition to removing a plethora of gators, officials at Disney have also constructed barriers and other precautions to keep alligators from getting too close to guests.
Some safety features include fencing, boulder walls and warning signs on the property near the water.
The remote areas to which they would be relocated already host healthy alligator populations and established social structures.
Introducing new alligators would disrupt the order and lead to fighting between the resident gators and the newcomers.
Thankfully, Florida has a healthy, stable population of these creatures, totaling about 1.3 million across all 67 counties.
The removal of these nuisance alligators does not have a significant impact on the species whatsoever.
Thankfully, officials with the FWC continue to work closely with Disney to ensure the safest conditions and prevent an avoidable tragedy.