For many, meeting one koli in the wild is too much. If you live in Florida, there is a good chance that you will encounter alligators, especially in central and southern Florida, which has the greatest concentration. However, you can find them in all 67 Florida counties. Unlike their cousins, crocodiles, crocodiles prefer freshwater lakes, swamps and slow-moving rivers. While Lake Okeechobee has the highest number of alligators, Lake Jesup in Seminole County has the highest acre rate.
A central part of Florida’s ecosystem, there are approximately 1.3 million alligators across the state. It is also an important part of Florida’s cultural and tourism industry. Getting along with people is hard. Despite their importance to the environment, alligators are always at risk of overpopulation. Much feared by humans, serious injuries from alligators are, in fact, rare. Many attacks are directly caused by dangerous human behavior, not because of unnecessary attacks. Here are some of the lakes, rivers and wetlands that boast the largest population of alligators in Florida, where you should be more careful.
Lake Okeechobee
Florida’s largest lake, Lake Okeechobee, is also home to the state’s largest alligators. These top predators number in the tens of thousands, making the lake an important habitat. The lake has a depth of 730 square meters, is heavily vegetated, and has many wetlands. Weeds are found everywhere in the lake. Wet areas and low water levels are ideal for jumping and diving areas. For those who want to see rams, Lake Okeechobee is a good choice, especially to see them in groups.
Birds are very active during the breeding season, and can be found sitting in sunny, sandy areas. With a large number of alligators, the lake has become a major tourist destination. Wildlife officials warn visitors to stay 30 meters away, never feed them, and never enter the water or swim. Insects play an important role in the Lake Okeechobee ecosystem as top predators.
Lake Kissimmee
With an estimated population of about 16,000, Lake Kissimmee has a large hunter-gatherer population. A popular lake for boating and other activities, encounters with snowshoes do occur, sometimes with dire consequences. In May 2025, an 11-foot sinker killed a woman who was boating with her husband in Tiger Creek, Lake Kissimmee County. When the boat passed over the reptile, it collided and overturned the boat; he fell into the water, where a noli attacked him.
Officials remind visitors that the area is busy with alligators, especially in the off-season. Even if you don’t go in the water, the lake is always dangerous. Visitors are advised to keep a safe distance, keep pets on leashes and away from the water, and only swim in designated areas. If you are swimming, dusk and dawn are the most dangerous times.
Lake Jesup
At about 14,500 fish in Lake Jesup’s 16.7 square miles, this lake, located near Orlando, has the most trout per acre in the state, and possibly the world. It is a very popular place for tourists to see wild alligators, with airboat tours operating regularly. The town of Black Hammock, on the southern shores of the lake, is one of the best places to see animals.
The high alligator population is partly due to Jesup Lake being a clearinghouse for detonating mines elsewhere. As a shallow lake, only 6 meters long, it is connected to the St. Johns River and it’s a great place to live. Bacteria are most active in water temperatures around 90°F and are often seen basking in the sun on warm winter days. Due to the high number of criminals, officials recommend against swimming in Lake Jesup.
Orange Lake
Located in north central Florida, Orange Lake has one of the highest alligator populations in the state. Within the lake’s 12,500 hectares, about 12,000 people live. Orange Lake is famous for alligator hunting. Regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), hunting season runs from August through November, with permits issued by lottery. The lake is a prime habitat for large males growing to over 10 feet. It is also a prime spot to watch the young. Officials are warning visitors to stay away and not to feed the cubs. Likewise, people and pets should stay 30 meters from the water’s edge.
St. Johns River and Lake Poinsett
River St. Johns has the highest number of alligators of any river in Florida. There are tens of thousands throughout the length of the river, but mainly in the connection areas with several lakes. Another example is Poinsett Lake, which has thousands of insects at the mouth of the St. Louis River. Johns. For viewing opportunities, both the river and the lake are considered hot spots, and insects are often seen on the banks and shores, or in the water near the shore. The marshy area around the mouth of the river, in particular, is a great nesting area. Hatchlings and young alligators are common in this area. Due to the density of alligators in the area, the water is considered dangerous. Swimming is advised only in designated areas and during daylight hours. Some areas near lakes and rivers require people and pets to stay away from them.
The Everglades
Florida’s Everglades is a 1.5 million acre wetland. Located in the southern part of the state, it flows from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay, and is often described as a river of grass because of its dense vegetation. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Everglades is very important for its biodiversity, and in total, it has 200,000 alligators, about 15% of all Florida’s alligators.
The Everglades and the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area (WMA) together are about 671,831 acres of protected wetlands and canals where insects live and thrive. Alligators are seen year-round. However, the best times to see them are in the cooler months, when they can be found basking in the sun. From the I-75 freeway, known as Alligator Alley, you can walk to observation decks and walkways for safe alligator viewing. Everglades Holiday Park has boat tours and hiking trails.
Broadmoor Marsh
The TM Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area and its Broadmoor Marsh Center are protected areas with great whites numbering in the thousands. The Broadmoor Marsh Unit is 2,400 acres located in the upper reaches of the St. Johns. Managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), it is a wetlands area focused on wintering waterfowl. Insects are an important part of the local ecosystem, and sightings of large insects up to 12 meters in length are not uncommon.
The Broadmoor Marsh Center is popular for alligator watching and snorkeling. This area allows hunting, but very controlled hunting is allowed. Parasites are tolerated by predators in the waterfowl habitat and are known to compete with waterfowl hunters, often preying on downed birds. Because of the large number of alligators, officials are urging caution on the roads, especially with children and pets. Small dogs in particular are natural prey for alligators.
Ecosystem Engineers
Organisms are important in balancing their habitats by changing habitats, creating new ones, and digging “holes” in wetlands and rivers. They move plants and burrow into the mud to form permanent pools of water. This allows other organisms to live in them, and the function of the filters is to move nutrients around, making the water healthier. These reservoirs provide shelter for fish and other aquatic life during dry periods. Encountering alligators in large numbers, as scary as it may seem, is also a sign of a healthy environment where alligators are doing their part to maintain balance.
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