Spring is in the air and Florida gators are looking for love.

Alligators can be found in all 67 of Florida's counties , along with nine other states. In Florida, there's an estimated 1.3 million alligators, according to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services.

Male alligators start looking for females in April.

There have been fatal attacks involving alligators in Florida over the years, and not even Disney is immune.

Lane Graves, 2, was grabbed by an alligator while playing in the water at the Seven Seas Lagoon at Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in Orlando in 2016. A statue honors Lane and "stands as a beacon of hope and support for families in the depths of despair, " the Graves family said.

Here's how to safely live with alligators in Florida.

Florida alligator mating season starts in April

Courtship between alligators begins in early April. Yes, love is in the air, and you might spot alligators on the move as they search for a mate.

Alligators are highly aggressive during this time, according to WorldClassWildlifeRemoval.com.

Mating happens in May or June, followed by the females building a nest and laying 32 to 46 eggs in late June or early July. Eggs generally hatch from mid-August through early September.

Alligators are most active when temperatures are between 82 and 92 degrees.

Alligator attacks: How often do gators bite people in Florida?

From 1948 to 2022, 453 unprovoked bite incidents have occurred. In Florida, 26 of these bites resulted inhuman fatalities, the FWC said.

Over the last 10 years, Florida has averaged eight unprovoked bites per year that are serious enough torequire professional medical treatment, according to the FWC.

"The likelihood of a Florida resident being seriously injured during an unprovoked alligator incident in Florida is roughly only one in 3.1 million.

In 2023, a 10-foot alligator grabbed an 85-year-old woman walking her dog near a small lake in a St. Lucie County neighborhood. The alligator was later caught and euthanized.

Where in Florida are the most alligators?

To get a population estimate, Florida Fish and Wildlife using sample data from the state's Alligator Management Units (AMUs), which are established areas across Florida. "The population estimates provided use a set of analyses incorporating the current years size and count data, environmental variables (water levels, etc...), and detection probability to estimate the total population and adult population on a given waterbody," according to an email from FWC.

Top 20 most alligator-infested lakes in Florida

How big do Florida alligators get?

Female alligators usually stay under 9 feet long, with larger ones weighing over 200 pounds. Male alligators typically reach up to 13 feet in length with some weighing more than 500 pounds, according to the Florida Fish and Wildfire Conservation Commission.

The Florida record for length was a 14 foot, 3.5-inch male in Lake Washington, in Brevard County.

The Florida record for weight was 1,043 po9unds for a male found in Orange Lake in Alachua County.

What do alligators eat?

Juvenile alligators eat primarily insects, amphibians, small fish, and other invertebrates, according to the Florida Fish and Wildfire Conservation Commission.

Adult alligators are " opportunistic feeders " that eat fish, snakes, turtles, small mammals, and birds.

Does anything eat alligators?

Adult alligators are eaten by other alligators. Some videos have shown pythons battling alligators. Hunting accounts for other gator mortalities.

Small alligators are eaten by other alligators — considered the most significant predator — raccoons, wading birds, and fish.

The primary predator of alligator eggs are raccoons, although they're also eaten by hogs, otters and bears, according to the FWC.

Where do American alligators live?

Alligators occur from southeast Oklahoma and east Texas on the western side of their range to North Carolina and Florida in the east.

Alligators can be found anywhere there is water, including lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, swamps, and even man-made canals, according to the University of Florida.

They prefer fresh water lakes and slow-moving rivers and their associated wetlands, but they also can be found in brackish water habitats.

How to safely live around alligators

What should you do if you're bitten by an alligator?

"If an alligator bites you, the best thing to do is fight back, providing as much noise and resistance aspossible. Hitting or kicking the alligator or poking it in its eyes may cause it to release its grip. Whenalligators seize prey they cannot easily overpower, they will often let go and retreat," the FWC said.

Seek immediate medical attention if bitten by an alligator. Alligator bites often result in serious infection.

Alligators vs crocodiles: How do you tell the difference?

Alligators have a broad, rounded snout with no lower teeth visible when their jaw is closed. Adult alligators are primarily dark gray in color with a lighter color underside.

The American crocodile has a narrow snout, and the fourth tooth of the lower jaw protrudes when closed. American crocodiles are a brownish gray color, and are generally paler colored than alligators.

Alligator nuisance hotline

If you encounter an alligator that is believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property, call the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline, toll‐free at 1‐866‐FWC‐GATOR (392‐4286).

The FWC’s Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program uses contracted nuisance alligator trappers throughout the state to remove alligators 4 feet in length or greater that are believed to pose a threat.