Watch: Gators Infest Florida Lake

ORLANDO, FL — As the temperatures across Florida soar well into the 90s, humans aren’t the only ones trying to escape the heat. Alligators are also taking cover, at least in the Lake Apopka area where an Orlando man recently captured dozens of the creatures on video, swimming in the early morning hours.

The video was shot by Paul Hueber on July 9 at 6:45 a.m. Hueber posted the video to Facebook the next day with a simple warning: Swim At Your Own Risk.

Get the Patch newsletter and alerts in your inbox.

The footage, Hueber said in his post, was taken at the pump house pond on Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. The Lake Apopka North Shore covers more than 20,000 acres and is available for recreational use. The property is overseen by the St. Johns River Water Management District with public access allowed between sunrise and sunset on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The park is closed on federal holidays.

While Hueber’s video shows the area’s booming alligator population, the land is also home to many other creatures, the water management district website notes. At one point, more than 300 different bird species were found in the area, along with turtles, otters, bobcats and coyotes. The recreational area is open to hikers, bicyclists, horseback riders and others. Boating and canoeing are available options on the lake. But, as Hueber pointed out, folks may way want to look before they leap.

See also: Gatorland Tip Saved Girl, 10, During Gator Attack

Florida is home to an estimated 1.3 million alligators. That means they’re likely to be found in all parts of the state — a message the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission frequently shares.

“You are likely to find alligators in almost every body of freshwater in the state at some time or another,” said Gary Morse, FWC spokesman, in a previous interview. “Alligators also frequent brackish waters and are sometimes found in saltwater where they will remain for short periods.”

The first rule of living with gators or visiting a state where they are so abundant, Morse said, is to “never approach an alligator – appreciate it from a safe distance.”

While alligator encounters can happen any time of the year in Florida, the critters are more active during hotter periods.

“All reptiles are more active in warmer months,” said Morse. “The body temperature and activity levels of alligators and other reptiles is directly related to the temperature of their surroundings.”

To help people stay safe around alligators, the state has created an educational brochure that Morse recommends all residents and visitors check out.

“It’s imperative that people become informed about alligators and alligator safety,” he said. “Go to our website at MyFWC.com and read the Living With Alligators brochure.”

Image via the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission