Diet Alligators aren't picky about what they eat. By Amy Kraft June 16, 2016 / 5:03 PM / CBS News On Tuesday night, a 2-year-old boy was playing at Disney's Seven Seas Lagoon in … The cold-blooded creatures can walk or swim up to 20 miles a night, so if they're on land during the day "they've taken a wrong turn" and are just trying to find their watering hole, she said. When the weather starts to warm, alligators become active, feeding more, looking for new territories and mating. Alligator myths debunked: Running zigzag won't help you and gators can climb. Third, during winter months, alligators are lethargic and pretty much just lay around. Alligators are also more active at dusk, although they can be active at any time of the day or night, Ross added. Also, always stay at least 10 feet away from a body of water with alligators in it in … Alligators can swim at a speed of 20 mph, so they’re much faster in the water than on the land . Alligator attack statistics Obviously the alligator is in a different league to these giant crocs but the statistics don’t show the whole picture. What you need to know about alligator attacks, according to Jack Hanna A beach near the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. Alligators are one of the few reptiles today that care for their young. they will hardly ever attack people on land, but be careful in water. In general, attacks on humans by wildlife are rare... alligators are not out to get you, whether it's day or night, or whether you're on land or in water... we are not a preferred prey item. American alligators can swim up to 20 mph (32.18 km/h) and run on land as fast as 11 mph (17.7 km/h), according to the San Diego Zoo. How do crocodiles breath on land? An alligator would really only land-chase a person who disturbed their nest, and then, not for very long. They can breathe on land, infact it's easier for them to breathe if they're out of the water. Alligators can survive two to three years without eating. Saltwater crocodile attacks DO happen in Australia on a regular basis. A brief sprint should keep you safe from any croc. On the other hand, the maximum speed that a human has ever reached swimming is 5.12 mph ( 8 ). Many people are under the impression that alligators attack humans all of the time. This saying, which is so old and so widespread that it's virtually impossible to determine where or why it was ever started, implies a couple of things: One, it implies that an alligator is likely to chase you a long distance on land. But once they attack, they don't want to do a lot of work. Saltwater Crocodile Attacks In Australia. Alligators have vibration sensors on their skin that are extremely sensitive -- they can detect even the slightest vibration and get out of harm's way long before it arrives. Alligators are relative placid animals. Alligators prefer an easy meal. On the plus side the odds are firmly on your side as the vast majority of alligator attacks do not result in serious injury and very few indeed are fatal. If the initial lunge fails, they tend to give up. crocodiles are reptiles, and they breathe air like humans do. They're patient hunters and will stalk their prey in the water for hours before attacking. They do not chase prey on land, as they have no ready way to actually kill…Their mighty-big-toothy jaws are meant for grabbing and holding, not killing. The truth is, although alligators are frighteningly quick, they're not cheetah fast and they don't like to run long distances. Although it is true that alligator attacks on humans have occurred from time to time, as a general rule alligators do not typically attack humans unless provoked in some way first. Two, it implies that alligators can run faster than humans -- at least when they're running in a straight line. If you see an alligator, the best thing to do … You should also avoid going into water where alligators are known to live, especially between dusk and dawn since that's when alligators hunt. Source(s): 21 years working with alligators. It is during these times that alligator sightings are most prevalent. Expert advice on how to survive an alligator attack. They are fat with short legs, and as a Floridian, I can attest that if they are on land and see you, they waddle quickly to the water to get away from you. (John Taggart/EPA) Apart from that, they’re not likely to even go far enough for their tail to leave the water, pursuing potential prey. So while an alligator attack might be rare, knowing what to do should that unlikely event occur could be life-saving. Not only are alligators not likely to chase you a long distance on dry land, they're not likely to attack you at all. To avoid an alligator attack, never approach or feed an alligator, and leave the area immediately if you see one since an alligator won't always flee like other wild animals. also, NEVER poke it with a stick. (Most attacks are on pets and livestock, but unfortunately there also regular accidents involving humans, and about two per year are fatal.) In short. Of course, an average person swims way slower than that. It's very rare for an alligator to chase a human on dry land. The best lesson is to be cautious around waters where alligators live, Ross said.