Wildlife May Swarm to Different Locations as Hurricane Ian Hits Florida, Officials Warn

Officials in Florida have issued a warning that during Hurricane Ian, the storm presently rains down on the Florida coast, and wildlife like snakes, alligators, and bears may appear throughout the state.

One of the worst hurricanes the state of Florida has ever experienced is Hurricane Ian. It is a Category 4 storm with winds of 130 to 156 mph and is predicted to make landfall on Wednesday. Several areas of Key West have already experienced flooding as a result of the storm, and more are likely to be affected.

In parts of Key West, flooding has already occurred as a result of the storm, and more are likely to be affected. Major storms like Hurricane Ian, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), can make wildlife more active.

Disoriented, Stressed

According to the FWC, locals may see more bears, alligators, and snakes than usual, so it's critical to be vigilant and give the wildlife the room it requires.

Due to the severe weather during hurricanes, wildlife can become confused. This implies that they might appear in unexpected locations far from their home range.

There are 1.3 million alligators in Florida, and while they rarely bite people, they can become hostile if provoked or under stress. The extreme weather may make the animals a greater threat to people than usual.

Read also: How to Behave Around Wildlife: Important Tips for Travelers 

Wandering Wildlife and Severe Weather

Typically, the state's swamps and wetlands are home to alligators. These may relocate to unusual locations if the storm causes them to become overflooded. Residents should contact authorities if they happen to come across a nuisance alligator, or an alligator that acts aggressively, according to the FWC's statement.

Florida is home to six venomous snake species, including the cottonmouth, eastern coral snake, southern copperhead, and three different kinds of rattlesnakes. Florida is home to the Florida black bear and the American black bear species.

Other wildlife, even sharks, can be impacted by severe weather.

Great white sharks off the American coast are tracked by Ocearch, an ocean research organization that posted on Facebook that many of the tagged sharks are reportedly in Atlantic Canada, where Fiona, a tropical storm, is wreaking havoc. The storm, one of the worst the nation has ever seen, has claimed at least one life.

An Ocearch spokesperson said that their team is still monitoring the Shark Tracker to see what the sharks' next moves are. However, the organization is pleasantly surprised by a few of its sharks pinging in immediately following the hurricane hit, with one of the sharks even pinging while the hurricane is happening.

Even though there won't be much of a risk to people from the sharks at this time, Ocearch will keep track of the sharks' movements to see if any move elsewhere over the next few days, Newsweek reports.

Related article: 10-Foot-Long Alligator That Followed Family for Years Finally Killed in Florida