Lake Swim & Alligators

I'm no Jeff Corwin, but my guess is that with all of the hoopla the morning of your tri (kayaks, jetskis, boats, etc.) any creatures in the vicinity will want to get as far away from the commotion as possible. 

If you have concerns, I would contact the race officials or the local authorities in that area to find out if there are sightings in that area.   The race officials may be able to give you some information on their research about the 'wildlife' in that neck of the woods - especially if they race the same course each year.  If their response is: "Our advice to you is to swim very fast", then I'd be worried. 

Even though there have been a couple of attacks lately, you have to look at the big picture. In the past 50 years, there have been around 15 fatal gator attacks... nation wide. The attacks recently in Florida are the worst example of alligator behavior. I undertand the concern it causes, as I grew up in SW Florida, and spent a lot of my younger years in and around the Everglades. Alligatos are somewhat skiddish by nature, and the frenzy of a triathlon open water swim is going to drive them away, if nothing else. You'll be fine.

The only really dangerous gators are the ones that have been fed by stupid humans and have learned to associate people with free food.  They also will get a bit territorial during mating season.   We've got a four-footer in the lake in our subdivision.  We see it very rarely, although it does do its part to keep the duck and yappy poodle populations under control. 

Like sharks, gators mostly hunt at dusk or night and don't like to get up early to chase those wiley triathletes splashing around in the wee hours of the morning.  Unless the race is at dusk through a gator nesting ground I wouldn't worry too much.   

 Clearly that alligator is much more afraid of humans than we are of it.  Look how docile and harmless he is. 

This time of the year I would start being more concerned with Amoeba than gators!

You can't find anything on the subject because no-one is left to tell the tale.  I'm telling you- all those DNF's are just cover ups for "eaten by beast".