SEBASTIAN — An American alligator was spotted last week swimming in the Indian River Lagoon near Crab-E-Bill’s Indian River Seafood.
Carmine Leonetti, manager at Crab E Bills, recorded Sept. 22 what he described as a “massive” alligator.
“I was out on our dock, just kind of looking around and I (had) seen it floating there,” said Leonetti. “And right away, I knew it was a big gator.”
While alligators are known for inhabiting freshwater, they are also known to be seen in brackish water, such as the Indian River Lagoon, according to Zack Jud, director of education and exhibits at Florida Oceanographic Society.
“This time of year, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some alligators migrating into the Indian River Lagoon to feast on the millions of mullet that gather in our area each fall,” Jud wrote to TCPalm. “Alligators are commonly seen in certain parts of the Indian River Lagoon system, including Mosquito Lagoon and the northern Banana River.”
Alligator sightings in brackish waters
Alligators are typically found in freshwater living in swampy areas, rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. However, they can tolerate salt water for a few hours, even a few days, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Brackish water, which has more salinity than freshwater but less salinity than the ocean, is one place to find alligators. They typically move through brackish or salty water searching for food such as fish and crabs, according to Jud.
“Large alligators can handle salty water better than small alligators,” Jud said. “So most alligators spotted in the Indian River Lagoon are adults rather than juveniles.”
Can alligators or crocodiles appear in the ocean?
Seeing an alligator or crocodile on the beach seems uncommon, but there is a possibility of a sighting.
“Unlike crocodiles, alligators do not have salt-secreting glands, so they can’t live in saltwater permanently,” Jud said. “Instead, they travel back and forth between freshwater and saltwater habitats.”
A beach was temporarily closed Sept. 20 in Pompano Beach after a 9-foot alligator was spotted swimming in the ocean.
In 2019, an alligator was spotted crawling out of the ocean at St. Andrews State Park near Panama City Beach in Florida.
“We were fishing, and he swam up on us,” Lisa Powell Niemiec said, the Panama City News Herald reports. “I think he was tired because of the current in the pass, and he laid there on the beach for a while then he swam around Deepwater Point into North Lagoon.”
Gianna Montesano is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429, or follow her on Twitter @gonthescene.
