ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Florida wildlife experts are warning locals in areas battered by Hurricanes Helene and Milton to avoid dark floodwaters for a hair-raising reason: alligators and snakes. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wrote on X after Milton hit: “Some wildlife, such as alligators, snakes, and bears are more likely to be seen after a storm. She warned that alligators don’t want to be near people, but if someone tries to grab them, they will snap at them. Also ahead of Milton, the Florida Health department urged people to avoid floodwaters due to exposure to Vibrio, a flesh-eating bacteria commonly found in warm coastal waters. It stirred up colonies of yellow jackets in western North Carolina, likely due to their underground nests being destroyed from rain, flood water and toppled trees.

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