FLORIDA'S STATE REPTILE

DID YOU KNOW that Harmony was designed to promote the peaceful coexistence of human and animal residents within the community while striking a balance between the preservation, use and enjoyment of Harmony's natural areas?

Underlying these objectives are the values of fostering a respect for the land, the protection of wildlife and the sensible use and enjoyment of Harmony's abundant natural and manmade amenities by its residents.

Did you know alligators move freely between our lakes, ponds, and wetland areas? The American alligator is Florida’s state reptile and is an important part of Florida’s wetland habitats. It’s also found throughout the state in swamps and slow-moving rivers, too.

At this time of year, during spring, you may notice that alligators are more active and visible. That’s because they are cold-blooded, so as temperatures rise, so does their metabolism, and they begin seeking prey. While alligator bite incidents resulting in serious injury are rare in Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recommends taking precautions when having fun in and around the water.

Alligators are most active at night. I once saw a really big one during a run right on the street at 6 in the morning — what a surprise! Swim only in Harmony’s pools, and not in any ponds or lakes! You’ve probably noticed that alligators like to bask in the sun on the banks of a pond. That’s because they control their body temperature that way.

It bears reminding that if you see an alligator, keep your distance, and never, EVER feed alligators because it is dangerous (to both you and the alligator) and illegal. When fed, alligators can overcome their natural wariness and learn to associate people with food. Dog owners should keep their animals on a leash and away from the water because pets can resemble an alligator’s natural prey, and several loose dogs have been taken by Harmony alligators over the years.

It’s happened in Harmony that people reported an alligator on the shore of their pond and it was pulled and killed by trappers. Apparently, people had been feeding it and it had gotten too people-friendly. Someone reported it and FWC came out to “remove” it. That alligator paid the ultimate price for human misbehavior.

If you see people feeding wildlife, please take a photo or video and report the incident to Fish and Wildlife at http://myfwc.com/contact/ wildlife-alert/

We are blessed with an abundance of green space and wild creatures. Keep a respectful distance, stay hidden, even, and enjoy their presence for longer. n