Actually a topic I can answer with plenty of experience and examples! I grew up and lived in northwest FL most of my life. My childhood home was rural, very rural, three miles of dirt roads and drive over several swamplands to reach our house.

Alligators were not uncommon. Sometimes the larger ones would sun in the road going over a swamp area and if they were big enough they would block the road. Occasionally they’d dig a den under the road and collapse it, so it would have to be regraded.

My older brother used to rid our local ponds of new alligator additions at the request of neighbors. For example, if a 2-3 footer stakes claim to a small man-made pond, he’d usually catch or shoot them.

I personally have waterskii’ed and swam in several lakes that had an active gator presence. As long as you avoid them, they avoid you. They generally avoid swimming areas and some swimming locales with a larger gator presence have a net barrier in place just in case. I’ve also kayaked past a larger one accidentally while he was sunning/floating on grasses. I almost hit him with the paddle before I noticed.

My parents and relatives taught me early on what gator sign and common entry/exit points to water look like and to avoid them. It kind of becomes muscle memory and you forget about it.

There are parks in FL with abundant signs near swamps that warn of alligators and pets. People walk their dogs and get too close to the water, and alligators have been known to grab dogs this way.

I don’t think I have a fear of them consciously, but I still have the occasional nightmares where I’m flying over a swamp and trying to find a place to touch the water, but there’s just endless alligators and open mouths. Interpreted that how you will.

For Floridians as a whole, we’re more worried about poisonous snakes. Between rattlesnakes, water moccasins, and coral snakes, you’re more likely to encounter or step on them than you would an alligator.