People and alligators co-exist best when the gators are afraid of humans. But human behavior can remove that fear -- and tragedy often ensues.

There's a good reason for signs that say, "Do not feed or molest alligators," and that feeding them is illegal. Feeding alligators is one of the most effective ways to take their fear of humans away.

From NewsPress.com:

Posing as tourists, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers cited Graham Potter, 57, and Randal Daniels, 72, of Everglades Island Airboat Tours for feeding marshmallows to alligators and raccoons.

Florida law prohibits feeding those two species as well as sandhill cranes, foxes, bears, pelicans and crocodiles.

“Those airboat tours are notorious for feeding wildlife,” said Lindsey Hord, head of Florida’s Alligator Management Program.

Neither Potter nor Daniels, who face up to 60 days in jail and $500 in fines, could be reached for comment, and a manager at the tour company would not to speak to The News-Press.

Now a public service announcement from us at kingsnake.com. Whatever you post on the internet can and will be used against you if you are found to be breaking the law. From AZCentral.com:

A man who boasted on Facebook that he killed an 11½-foot alligator has been arrested in Central Texas.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden Fred Ensinger said Thursday the gator was discovered near a creek in Bastrop County about a week ago. He calls the gator an "anomaly," nearly twice the size of gators rarely seen this far from the Texas Gulf Coast.

Ensinger says the suspect's Facebook postings about shooting the big gator helped authorities track him down. Ensinger wouldn't identify the suspect because he hasn't been charged with what is likely to be a misdemeanor.

If you are going to break the law, dis your boss, or cheat on your spouse, it would be wise to keep it off teh interwebs.