Florida Alligator Expert Reveals The ‘Water Test’ To Check If One Is Nearby

A humorous video explaining how to detect the presence of alligators in Florida’s waters has gone viral on TikTok, but the warning is no joke, an expert told Newsweek.
The clip, posted by TikTok @allgood247, has amassed over 17.2 million views since it was first shared on June 12. In the video, a simple test is demonstrated, suggesting that splashing water and checking if your hand is wet is an indicator that an alligator is nearby.
A message overlaid on the clip reads: “Best way to check if there is a gator near you in Florida.” As a hand is dipped into the water, a voice in the clip says “All you do is go in the water, splash around and if your hand’s wet, then you know that there’s an alligator around.”
Bobby Fokidis, a professor at Rollins College who has identified where alligators are hiding in his wetland research, offered a more nuanced take on the “water test.”
He told Newsweek: “The ‘water test’ as I learned when I first moved to Florida, 13 years ago says, ‘if the water is wet, there are gators.’ Funny how things come back around, and I am still talking about this, years later.”
Despite the humorous nature of the video, Fokidis acknowledged that there is some truth to the warning. “Funny enough, it’s a decent bit of advice. There are three to four million gators in the U.S., and being territorial means they can potentially occupy any freshwater body, even if temporarily.”
Alligators are found in all 67 of Florida’s counties and they’ve inhabited the state’s marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes for many centuries, says the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Florida has seen a huge growth in its human population in recent years, which “can result in more frequent alligator-human interactions, and a greater potential for conflict,” advises the FWC.
The FWC warns: “Remember, never feed an alligator and keep your distance if you see one. Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours. And keep pets on a leash and away from the water.”
Professor Fokidis explained that unlike a Yellowstone grizzly bear or a Californian mountain lion, “you have a very good chance of encountering a gator on any day—I saw one this morning on my commute—so think about where you do your watersports.”
The professor also noted that most slow-moving bodies of water in the southeastern U.S. could harbor alligators, with certain environmental factors increasing the likelihood of their presence. “Classic habitat includes excessive shoreline vegetation (i.e., the ‘marshy look’) or floating plants, like water lilies. Alligators love basking on logs or on embankments, especially muddy banks,” he said.
For those venturing near potential alligator habitats, Fokidis advises being vigilant and looking out for signs such as “floating ‘logs’ with eyes and nostrils visible.”
He explained that at night, a spotlight can reveal an alligator’s presence by reflecting off their eyes—a method often used in alligator surveys.
While many animals tend to flee when humans are nearby, Fokidis emphasized the need for caution, warning that alligators “can silently slip into the water, so be careful around the shore and do not approach them.”
He added: “Making a loud noise or splash can notify a nearby gator of your presence, but like most animals, 99 percent of [the alligators] will run away from you.”
The professor also highlighted the increased risks during alligator mating season, which lasts from April to June. During this period, male alligators become more territorial and aggressive, making encounters more dangerous. “If you are lucky, you can hear their loud, prehistoric, roar that makes your chest rumble at close range,” Fokidis remarked.
The professor concluded with a stern warning saying “Bottom line—alligators are everywhere and can be anywhere. I would not risk a gator encounter for a quick swim in a swampy lake, so if the water is wet, there could be a gator.”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
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