which caliber in South Florida

[CZ173]

I am dealing with health issues (blood clot) and started walking today in Broward County just west of the Sawgrass express way and saw an alligator in the water when I arrived and went walking along gravel area with bodies of water and vegetation all around and thought to myself I should be armed. On my way back around where I saw the alligator there were multiple people fishing and I went up to the gentleman that was fishing closest to the alligator. Towards the end of our conversation he said he has seen multiple alligators, bobcats, snakes and other fun wildlife.

So my question is which is the best caliber for my area? mainly looking at handguns to save on weight as I am disabled/handicap
my choices are 22lr,22wmr,5.7x28,9mm,45acp
thanks for the info in advance!

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[E.Shell]

They kill plenty of alligators with .22s, but those shots are carefully selected and you wouldn't have time for that. I would personally prefer a .45 for gators.

Bobcats are extremely unlikely to bother you. They are too small to consider adult humans prey. I saw a nice one in Punta Gorda a few months ago and he took off full speed the second he realized I was looking at him.

99% of the time, if you see a snake and have time to shoot it, you have time to avoid it. The exception I can envision would be if you stepped too close before realizing and it would be unsafe to move due to risk of provoking a strike. In that case, any caliber would be fine.

Note that most wildlife is protected, either by hunting regulations or conservation laws. If you shoot something out of season or protected, be prepared to face charges unless you can prove it was necessary.

Coyotes in some areas are becoming a threat to humans, especially kids, but most places they are afraid of humans. Bears can be a remotely possible issue, but a .45 would again be my choice of what you have available.

I would be much more concerned with human predators, in which case the .45 would still work, as would a 9mm or 5.7.

[CZ173]

my main concern is probably the bobcat and was not aware that they would be more scared of me than not. About running away which would be my first reaction unfortunately is not possible due to my health and disabilities

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[rdcinhou]

The Texas bobcats that we have are stealth hunters.  They like to perch on a tree limb or in the case of my mother's house, on top of her car port. They normally go after small prey, like cats, dogs and squirrels, but there have been reports of attacking people.

Once they notice you looking at them they will leave.

So, best to have a high level of situational awareness when outdoors--expect the unexpected.

[Wobbly]

I also walk almost daily in "wild" areas of N Georgia with plenty of snakes, feral dogs, and unsavory characters. I also have had heart issues.

I carry a lightweight snub-nose 38 revolver rated for +P. (S&W Model 638 with semi-concealed hammer.) My first cartridge is a shot-shell for snakes and the remainder of the cylinder is filled with +P hollow points. The gun is fitted with a grip-mounted laser for low-light situations.

This is a very comfortable gun to carry. It's light and very concealable. I do appendix carry inside the waistband in one of those clip-less, flat, synthetic grippy fabric holsters for under $10. These holsters tend to become form-fitting after a year and so the gun is very securely held with easy access. Even when running.

I like the gun because it allows a warning in the form of the laser and/or cocking the hammer. For absolute stealth, the semi-concealed hammer also allows firing from within jacket pockets.

38 +P is a serious cartridge.

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

If I was picking a handgun with the focus being defense against animals other than humans I'd be looking at a magnum revolver in .357 or larger with at minimum a 4 inch barrel.ymmv.

[crosstimbers]

I would disagree with only one point of the advise offered. Your biggest threat is snakes, and they are not always obvious. A .22 either LR or Magnum with snake shot plus some HP or FMJ ammo in your pocket. I have been fortunate to have had what must have been a dry bite, and a near miss neither of which I had any inkling of beforehand.....in circumstances where there was no real reason that I should have ever seen the danger. One was a snake behind the tire of my friend's truck, the other a snake under a branch that hardly could have been called a log- and it had to have been concealed length-wise (that was a Copperhead, the first was a rattlesnake).
There is so much defense of snakes by the tree-huggers now, and I wont kill one that I know to be beneficial or even a poisonous snake far from the house. But...sorry they are darned well dangerous otherwise..and a few good cats eat many more mice than snakes ever will.

[double-d]

Can take care of everything that bothers me

[david s]

Of your given choices the 45 followed by the 9mm.

[E.Shell]

I would disagree with only one point of the advise offered. Your biggest threat is snakes, and they are not always obvious. A .22 either LR or Magnum with snake shot plus some HP or FMJ ammo in your pocket. I have been fortunate to have had what must have been a dry bite, and a near miss neither of which I had any inkling of beforehand.....in circumstances where there was no real reason that I should have ever seen the danger. One was a snake behind the tire of my friend's truck, the other a snake under a branch that hardly could have been called a log- and it had to have been concealed length-wise (that was a Copperhead, the first was a rattlesnake).
There is so much defense of snakes by the tree-huggers now, and I wont kill one that I know to be beneficial or even a poisonous snake far from the house. But...sorry they are darned well dangerous otherwise..and a few good cats eat many more mice than snakes ever will.

This illustrates my point above. If you see and have time to shoot a venomous snake, you probably have time to avoid it. It's the ones you don't see that are the real threat.

[CZ173]

I would disagree with only one point of the advise offered. Your biggest threat is snakes, and they are not always obvious. A .22 either LR or Magnum with snake shot plus some HP or FMJ ammo in your pocket. I have been fortunate to have had what must have been a dry bite, and a near miss neither of which I had any inkling of beforehand.....in circumstances where there was no real reason that I should have ever seen the danger. One was a snake behind the tire of my friend's truck, the other a snake under a branch that hardly could have been called a log- and it had to have been concealed length-wise (that was a Copperhead, the first was a rattlesnake).
There is so much defense of snakes by the tree-huggers now, and I wont kill one that I know to be beneficial or even a poisonous snake far from the house. But...sorry they are darned well dangerous otherwise..and a few good cats eat many more mice than snakes ever will.

This illustrates my point above. If you see and have time to shoot a venomous snake, you probably have time to avoid it. It's the ones you don't see that are the real threat.

you are probably right but running is not an option for me

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[E.Shell]

I certainly wouldn't want to see you endangered. A venomous snakebite is indeed a life-changing event with the potential to be life-ending.

I would say that of the dozen or so venomous snakes (Timber Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, Moccasins) I have encountered and the gazillion harmless snakes i have encountered, handled and/or kept, NONE have ever advanced on me. None required more than one step away to avoid and most have retreated as soon as they realized i was there.

[crosstimbers]

I would disagree with only one point of the advise offered. Your biggest threat is snakes, and they are not always obvious. A .22 either LR or Magnum with snake shot plus some HP or FMJ ammo in your pocket. I have been fortunate to have had what must have been a dry bite, and a near miss neither of which I had any inkling of beforehand.....in circumstances where there was no real reason that I should have ever seen the danger. One was a snake behind the tire of my friend's truck, the other a snake under a branch that hardly could have been called a log- and it had to have been concealed length-wise (that was a Copperhead, the first was a rattlesnake).
There is so much defense of snakes by the tree-huggers now, and I wont kill one that I know to be beneficial or even a poisonous snake far from the house. But...sorry they are darned well dangerous otherwise..and a few good cats eat many more mice than snakes ever will.

This illustrates my point above. If you see and have time to shoot a venomous snake, you probably have time to avoid it. It's the ones you don't see that are the real threat.

Well, to a point I agree....however when the snake is where I want or need to step, and doesn't seem inclined to leave, it's going to get shot or be used for weed-hoeing practice. Nor will I allow one near the house. Florida is no doubt worse, but we have quite a few snakes where I live as well, they arent scarce or in danger of extinction. I'm not of the mind that the only good snake is a dead snake, but I'm not a lover of them either.

On the choice of a 22, I think another reason is weight. There are some light weight 22s not to mention the ammo is less heavy than centerfire ammo.

[Wobbly]

I would say that of the dozen or so venomous snakes (Timber Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, Moccasins) I have encountered and the gazillion harmless snakes i have encountered, handled and/or kept, NONE have ever advanced on me. None required more than one step away to avoid and most have retreated as soon as they realized i was there.

I was literally chased 6+ ft back onto the hood of our rental car by a water moccasin in the Deland, FL area. This was witnessed by a co-worker. We were inspecting phone cabinets in remote areas.

But you are correct, rattlesnakes will retreat if the action stops for 30 seconds, and copperheads will "play dead" for several minutes.

[crosstimbers]

I would say that of the dozen or so venomous snakes (Timber Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, Moccasins) I have encountered and the gazillion harmless snakes i have encountered, handled and/or kept, NONE have ever advanced on me. None required more than one step away to avoid and most have retreated as soon as they realized i was there.

I was literally chased 6+ ft back onto the hood of our rental car by a water moccasin in the Deland, FL area. This was witnessed by a co-worker. We were inspecting phone cabinets in remote areas.

But you are correct, rattlesnakes will retreat if the action stops for 30 seconds, and copperheads will "play dead" for several minutes.

People will say that Cottonmouths aren't aggressive, that they dont come at people unless they think it is an escape route or something. But I've experienced the same thing you did. Had one slither up onto a pier with me and come straight at me.

We had a lease in central Texas for several years, it was a rattler hotspot. They dont always retreat. The rancher had them thick around his house, penned his kid up in a stock trailer once.

Thats what I think about when I see them near the house, pets and grandkids. So, I don't know much about the wildlife of Florida, but figure reptiles would be expected during the OP's walks.