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Frontier narrows between alligators and humans in Southwest Florida

David Albers/Staff - Tourists Luke Heffernan, 8, Chris Heffernan, Matthew Heffernan, 10, Ethan Heffernan, 4, and Jamie Heffernan, left to right, take in the wildlife from a boardwalk at Turner RIver Road and US 41 East in rural Collier County on Friday, June 16, 2012. The stretch of gravel road is frequented by tourists and tour vans for its abundance of visible alligators.

Photo by DAVID ALBERS

David Albers/Staff
- Tourists Luke Heffernan, 8, Chris Heffernan, Matthew Heffernan, 10, Ethan Heffernan, 4, and Jamie Heffernan, left to right, take in the wildlife from a boardwalk at Turner RIver Road and US 41 East in rural Collier County on Friday, June 16, 2012. The stretch of gravel road is frequented by tourists and tour vans for its abundance of visible alligators.

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  • Signs warning people against feeding wildlife are found throughout Naples, including signs to not feed alligators posted by the lake at Pelican Bay Community Park. In Southwest Florida, ignoring the warnings and feeding the animals can have dire consequences, like attacks from alligators that associate humans with food. David Ahntholz/Staff
  • David Albers/Staff - An alligator sits motionless near the shore of the canal along Turner River Road in rural Collier County on Friday, June 16, 2012. The stretch of gravel road is frequented by tourists and tour vans for its abundance of visible alligators.
  • David Albers/Staff - An unidentified airboat captain baits an American Alligator to come closer to the boat as tourists look on near Everglades City in 2008.
  • David Albers/Staff - An unidentified airboat captain lures an American Alligator out of the water with a fish during a tour in 2008 near Everglades City. The practice is illegal and may not only results in fines but it may be cause for the animal to be euthanized.
  • David Albers/Staff - A sign warns of the dangers of feeding and harassing alligators along Turner River Road in rural Collier County on Friday, June 16, 2012. The stretch of gravel road is frequented by tourists and tour vans for its abundance of visible alligators.
  • David Albers/Staff - Tourists Luke Heffernan, 8, Chris Heffernan, Matthew Heffernan, 10, Ethan Heffernan, 4, and Jamie Heffernan, left to right, take in the wildlife from a boardwalk at Turner RIver Road and US 41 East in rural Collier County on Friday, June 16, 2012. The stretch of gravel road is frequented by tourists and tour vans for its abundance of visible alligators.
  • David Albers/Staff - An alligator sits motionless near the shore of the canal along Turner River Road in rural Collier County on Friday, June 16, 2012. The stretch of gravel road is frequented by tourists and tour vans for its abundance of visible alligators.
  • David Albers/Staff - A sign warns of the dangers of feeding and harassing alligators along Turner River Road in rural Collier County on Friday, June 16, 2012. The stretch of gravel road is frequented by tourists and tour vans for its abundance of visible alligators.
  • David Albers/Staff - An alligator sits motionless near the shore of the canal along Turner River Road in rural Collier County on Friday, June 16, 2012. The stretch of gravel road is frequented by tourists and tour vans for its abundance of visible alligators.
  • David Albers/Staff - An alligator sits motionless near the shore of the canal along Turner River Road in rural Collier County on Friday, June 16, 2012. The stretch of gravel road is frequented by tourists and tour vans for its abundance of visible alligators.
  • David Albers/Staff - An airboat captain circulates around the waters near Dupont Street in Everglades City where several airboat tour companies function on Friday, June 15, 2012.

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