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Orange Lake in North Central Florida has a large alligator population, estimated at 2,732, making it the second most alligator-populated lake in Florida.
While alligator sightings are common, residents and visitors generally view them as a natural part of the Florida ecosystem and exercise caution around them.
Florida has an estimated 1.3 million alligators statewide, with Lake Okeechobee having the largest estimated population.
ORANGE LAKE — Anyone who frequents Orange Lake in North Central Florida can agree: There’s no shortage of alligators there.
Orange Lake is the largest lake in the region, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) , spanning both Alachua and Marion counties. As of August 2024, it ranks second in Florida in