After attack, expert says alligators are everywhere (but don't be alarmed)

A scary incident of an alligator biting a nine-year-old boy in Lake Pontchartrain is a reminder that the toothy reptiles may be in closer proximity than you think.

Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries estimates there may be up to 4 million alligators in the state.

"That's just about an alligator per person in Louisiana," said LSU Ag Center alligator expert Mark Shirley.

Shirley says just about every freshwater and even mildly brackish waters are home to the predators.

"Just about any body of water is going to have an alligator in it," he said.

Alligators, says Shirley, are usually afraid of us -- unless they're REALLY big, or someone has been foolishly offering them food.

"You're actually teaching that alligator to identify food associated with people," said Shirley.

And that can leads to 'gators thinking people ARE food.

The latest attack was Sunday in the lake near Bayou St. John. The nine-year-old was swimming.

The father's boy reportedly jumped on the gator after it grabbed his son, and beat the animal until it let the child go.

NOFD says the victim had "a laceration and puncture wounds."

The fire department told NOLA.com that the gator was about six feet long.