Got a gator in your yard or pool? It's a Florida thing, so here's who to call

During the summer, much like the weather, alligators can become particularly aggressive. They also tend to have a wider range of travel in the summertime. 

During alligator mating season, which lasts from April through June, male gators become more combative and can roam over 1,000 acres of land.

Dominant males typically displace the weaker male alligators during mating season, which is one of the reasons Floridians see more gators in their yards, retention ponds and even pools during the summer months.

If you have a gator in your yard or pool, don't freak out. It's not that abnormal, as these dinosaurs can be found in every county in the state.

Here's what to do:

What to do if a gator is in your yard

Removing a gator from your yard isn't the same as calling a private critter control service or your community's animal control. You have to call the state.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program with a gator hotline. If there is a gator in your yard or pool, call the free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286).

The Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) will issue a permit to one of its contracted nuisance alligator trappers, authorizing the removal of the gator.

An alligator is deemed a nuisance if it:

•  Is at least 4 feet long.
• the caller believes it poses a threat to people, pets or property.
• If it is smaller than 4 feet and winds up in places that are not acceptable, like swimming pools or garages, and must be removed. 

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How much does gator removal cost?

The state pays its contracted nuisance alligator trappers for each job they are called out to. Calling SNAP's toll-free number and having a trapper come to your home will not cost you anything.

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What is the best way to get away from a gator?

Native Floridians learn as early as preschool to run away in a zig-zag line upon encountering a gator, but this has actually been debunked. Gators can run fast on land, but only in short distances before they get tired. Simply run away in a straight line.

If you find yourself tempted to take a night swim in a lake, river, pond or any natural body of fresh water, just don't. If the sun is down, the gators are out.

If you're walking or relaxing beside a lake, pond or river with your dog or cat, keep them at least 10 feet away from the shore and on a leash.

This should go without saying, but never feed an alligator. This is the last wild animal you want to associate you with food.

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Can you shoot an alligator in your yard in Florida?

Don't try to "take care" of any gators yourself. If you don't have a permit to be hunting gators, you can't shoot one. And, depending on where you live, just by firing gun you may be breaking other local laws.

Under Florida law, it's a third-degree felony to "intentionally kill, injure, possess or capture, or attempt to kill, injure, possess or capture an alligator or other crocodilian, or the eggs of an alligator or other crocodilian, unless authorized by rules of the commission."

The Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program trappers relocate gators under 4 feet long and kills nuisance gators that are longer than 4 feet.

"Relocated alligators often try to return to their capture site," according to the SNAP website. "They can create problems for people or other alligators along the way. If an alligator successfully returns, capturing it again would be necessary and likely more difficult the second time."

Lianna Norman covers trending news in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at lnorman@pbpost.com. You can follow her reporting on social media@LiannaNorman on Twitter.