Hear a massive Florida alligator's mating call; why breeding season has started a bit early

SOUND ON: Hear massive gator bellow during mating season

Alyssa Rose said she was at the Apopka Wildlife Trail in spring 2022, when she and her family found a huge alligator in the water making a deep bellow sound. She posted the video on TikTok and gave FOX 35 permission to share.

ORLANDO, Fla. - The weather is heating up quickly this year in Florida, kicking off alligator breeding season a tad early.

Though alligator courtship typically begins in early April, with mating occurring between May and June, Gatorland CEO Mark McHugh shared in an alligator safety video that the early Spring weather the Sunshine State experienced this past winter can be confusing to the reptiles, causing them to mate a bit early.

Officials say male gators will typically lift their tails high and slap the water with their jaws to create vibrations throughout the water.

During alligator mating season, female alligators will build a nest of soil, vegetation, or debris and lay up 46 eggs in late June or early July, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Hatching occurs from mid-August through early September.

MORE: Alligator seems to be having a good time eating another alligator at Orlando park

Alyssa Rose, who lives in Florida, recorded video last year of a large alligator bellowing in the water. She told FOX 35 in a Facebook message that she was on the Lake Apopka Wildlife Trail with her family when they saw this huge gator.

"The alligator started making this noise and it was amazing to see up close. I have been down the trail many times and have not heard it," she wrote.

MORE: Florida man appears to feed alligator a sandwich in viral video

Watch: Giant alligator barges through metal fence

What would you do? A worker at a golf course in Charlotte County, Florida saw a large alligator barge its way between the poles of a metal fence before becoming stuck -- and apparently needed a bit of help. Credit: Eric Dagg via Storyful

It's estimated that there are 1.3 million alligators of every size across Florida's 67 counties, including in marshes, lakes, rivers, and retention ponds.

In the alligator safety video posted on Gatorland's Facebook page, McHugh shared several tips to keep you safe from alligators:

Pay attention to your surroundings
Leave alligators alone.
Never feed wild alligators. It is dangerous and it is illegal.
Look for signage warning of alligators and do not swim in waters that might be inhabited by the reptile.

Florida gator encounters: What do you do?

Alligators have been making a lot of appearances at Central Florida homes lately. So if you encounter one, what should you do? A Gatorland expert brought Cecil the gator to FOX 35 to discuss gator safety.

So, what do you do if you see an alligator?

The state of Florida has a Florida Nuisance Alligator Hotline where people can report nuisance alligators – and have a licensed trapper come out to remove the reptile. The Florida Nuisance Alligator Hotline number is 866-FWC Gator, or 866-392-4286.

According to the FWC's website, "an alligator is deemed a nuisance if it is at least 4 feet in length and the caller believes it poses a threat to people, pets or property." This also includes alligators that end up in places you do not want them to be, such as in swimming pools, garages, or on the front porch.