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Originally Posted by 18togo
So I've been seeing all of the posts from Lake Weir Living. Part of their selling points is swimming and boating in the lake. Now, being from PA, and not a villager yet, I read all kinds of posts on here about alligators. Can you really boat and swim in the lake without fear of alligators?
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While not a FL native, I have lived here and raised a family here. You are much more likely to be bit by a raid animal, bit by a shark or struck by lightning than you are to be attacked by a gator. Gators are instinctively afraid of people. I have taken my kids water skiing the St Johns many times. When they were young I would stay in the water, help them get up and wait until my wife had picked up that skier and me.
There are two places I would suggest you not go: Lake Dora - far too many idiots, including those that own property on the lake, regularly feed the gators (bad idea) - the other is Lake Jessup in Sanford. This lake has the highest concentrations of gators in Florida. It is probably safe, but when I see Hundreds of eyes looking at me at night (strong flashlight needed as well as dam near impossible access), I tend to back off.
Go enjoy the lakes and rivers of Florida. You are no more in danger here from wildlife than you were anywhere else in the US (CT and RI possible exceptions).