That incident happened close to my home. She was swimming near the shore, pretty much away from other people. A person in a rec kayak helped to rescue her.

I usually see gators every time I go on a long paddle in fresh water and look forward to seeing them in the same way I like to see eagles and other wildlife. They are large and powerful. As such you have to respect them and not do anything stupid, as others have said. It is also true, that they have a special fondest for dogs and will enter a campsite to attack them -- I will not go camping anywhere near fresh water with my dog. I would not take a small child either.

Usually gators give you common-sense warnings -- hissing and bellowing to let you know to stay away. Use your common-sense. A friend of mine was paddling a high speed on the St. John's river (training for a race), saw and heard a gator hissing at him ahead. Undaunted he sped by the gator and it lunged out and put some nice holes in his racing canoe.

Gators aren't fond of saltwater -- if you want to practice rolls, you won't have any issue in the Gulf or Sarasota Bay and similar places.

There are a small number of American Crocodiles (that prefer salt water) in the Everglades. They are a common sight at Flamingo. The American Crocodiles seem to be even more shy than alligators.

Greg Stamer