Visitors at the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter are talking about the terrible alligator attack at a Disney resort.
Mason Roche, 11, talked about the alligators he sees near his home, "Sometimes I see them at the pond and I get afraid and so I ignore it and go back to my house."
His friend Dylan Shank said, "I think they are cool to look at, but kind of scary."
David Hitzig, who educates the public at the sanctuary, also keeps a watchful eye on the wild alligators that live near nearby.
Describing one he spotted in the water, Hitzig said, "It's not typical alligator behavior to attack human beings.
He added, "Most of the attacks occur from alligators that are used to being around people and used to being fed by people. When people start tossing them food, alligators lose their natural fear of us."
He says gators leave tracks behind them.
"Typically alligators are going to leave some type of trail where they are coming in and going out of the water. And alligators are visible. If they are around, you will see them."
He says if faced with an alligator, try not to make quick moves.
"Don't panic, don't start splashing around because that's going the stimulate the alligator to come and investigate."
For more information about alligators or if you spot an alligator near your home, call the Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR or 866-392-4286.
