To avoid an encounter with a gator, wildlife experts said people must never feed them. It’s not only dangerous but also illegal in Florida. Families with young children should also steer clear of waterways at nighttime, when alligators can’t decipher the difference between a child and its normal food sources, which include birds, rodents and other small mammals. People must be especially vigilant during nesting season, in June and July.

“It’s rare that an alligator will come out of the water and go after a human being,” Ron Magill, a wildlife expert and communications director at Zoo Miami, said on “Good Morning America” today. “They usually nest close to the water. If you get near a nest, a female will come after you. Females are very protective.”

In the unusual event that you find yourself squaring off with a gator, wildlife experts offer these four tips: