But, issuing a few hunting permits every year helps manage alligator populations to better keep both humans and gators safe. According to conservation organization Share the Beach, the gator was seen on the far west end of the island and was most likely hunting for sea turtle eggs. Alligator hunters are selected to hunt these areas through bidding and lotteries. Crocs feature V-shaped snouts that are narrow or wide, and their jaws close from the top, exposing all teeth. An effort in 1979 to expand their territory north, aiming to protect and increase the alligator population, saw 56 of the animals given sanctuary at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. If this occurs, dont test the waters and go swimming anyway. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Although alligators are naturally shy of humans, they can become aggressive if harassed, provoked, or purposely fed. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Gulf Shores offers the perfect habitat for freshwater bodies, marshes, and other free-flowing water entities. For this year's hunting season, which starts Aug. 11, the state will issue 260 permits. Although South Carolina is warmer, on average, than North Carolina, it can still get quite cold. alligators that allow hunters with permits to kill or facilitate the removal of alligators. To find out how many alligators live in Alabama, its important to know how to identify an alligator. The crocodilian family has 13 species worldwide, whereas the alligator only has American and Chinese species. If you are looking for someplace closer to town, Village Point Park Preserve in Daphne will allow you to see gators. Coastal marshlands around the state are key breeding grounds for these reptiles. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In fact, almost all gators can be found south of the fall line, a line that travels through Columbus, Macon, and Augusta. If fed by people, alligators quickly associate humans with food, which can be dangerous. However, occasionally a jellyfish or a few will navigate toward the shore, so its essential to be vigilant while in the water. In the water, only the tops of their heads and backs remain visible. Alligators . 1 Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources 2 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 3 Georgia Department of Natural Resources 4 South Carolina Department of Natural Resources 5 University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Wildlife Damage Management 6 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department . Alligators shy away from humans and would rather skater away than attack. The Sixth Largest Alligator - Tom Grant's Alligator - 13'1.5". What States Have Alligators 2023. The maximum length is about 5.8 metres (19 feet), but it more typically ranges from about 1.8 to 3.7 metres (6 to 12 feet). Eastern diamondback rattlesnake. And there have only been 23 fatalities between 1948 and 2016. The American alligator requires fresh water with an abundant food supply and marsh habitat nearby for nesting. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says looking from a distance is fine. Dont Throw Fish Scraps in the Water Dispose of fish scraps properly in garbage cans at boat ramps, fish camps, or when cleaning fish near water. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. The alligator hunting season was restarted in Alabama about 10 years ago. The American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis) can be found in ponds, lakes, canals, rivers, swamps, and bayous, but it mostly lives in coastal marshes. The most common problem in Alabama pertaining to alligators is the mindset of humans who think they need to feed them. This area is home to many different types of marine life and the threat is relatively low. Always remember to use extreme caution while on Lake Eufaula. The current world record alligator was taken by Mandy Stokes, of Thomaston, in August 2014. About 1/3 of alligator nests are destroyed by predators (mainly raccoons) or flooding. At one time, the alligators in Alabama were under threat of extinction. No glass or breakable containers. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? However, with human populations continuing to expand, interaction between people and alligators can be expected. Adult alligators are opportunistic and will feed on anything from fish, snakes, turtles, birds, muskrats, nutria, and otters, to raccoons, feral pigs, deer, and even other alligators. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Recently a seven-foot alligator was videoed by TWRA Region 1 personnel in West Tennessee at the Wolf River WMA in Fayette County. Human/alligator conflicts are rare. During mating season, female alligators lay 30-40 eggs, which incubate for 60-65 days. Louisiana and Florida have the largest alligator populationsthere are more than one million wild alligators in each state. Fish scales reflect in the sun, which helps alligators hunt their prey. The city has also advised that under no circumstances should residents feed the reptiles, as providing food will help them to make the link between humans and food and cause further danger. Alligators will fight other alligators to defend their territory and young. Although initially, you could only find alligators in southern Alabama, reports of their sightings in the northern parts are increasing. Check out the following swimming halls on your summer vacation in Alabama. So if an alligator hisses or lunges toward you, you are much too close for their comfort and should move away. Alligators can be found in the coastal, southeastern states as far north as North Carolina, and as far west as the Rio Grande River in Texas. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) is the state agency responsible for the conservation and management ofAlabama'snatural resources including state parks, state lands, wildlife and aquatic resources. Despite the data that shows just how uncommon alligator attacks actually are, these reptiles are often viewed with extreme fear. 2023 Copyright by Travel Safe - Abroad. If telling you not to swim with them isnt enough, you must go in the water, take off all jewelry, and dont wear shiny clothing. At least two people died in 2022 from alligator attacks Credit: Getty How many alligator attacks took place in 2022? That type of wildlife is alligators. If you come across an alligator, stay around 60 feet away from it, dont run away on land, and swim away if in the water. The state that is probably least known for alligator populations in Oklahoma. Florida alligator bite statistics date back to 1948, ranging around three major bites per year. Fish and Wildlife Service placed the American alligator on the Endangered Species List. After a recent sighting at the greenway off Haysland Road in Huntsville, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says increased sightings can be attributed to any number of things. Contents1 Where do alligators live in Alabama?2 Does [] Louisiana has the most alligators of all of the states, with over two million gators residing there. But, how many alligators live in Alabama? To learn more about ADCNR visit www.outdooralabama.com. Alabama DCNR 12.14.12. Texas has 400-500,000 alligators within its borders. About 70,000 alligators live in Alabama. In fact, alligators live in approximately half of the states fresh waters. Everything is big in Texas! Gulf State Park. With the opening of the newly renovated Gator Alley Boardwalk in Daphne, it's time to review some facts about Alabama alligators along with some tips in being safe around the reptile's habitat. After fighting with this angry gator for more than an hour, Tom Grant and his buddies were able to wrestle it to shore. Village Point Park Preserve boardwalks have designs to guarantee safety even for young children. According to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, there are around 70,000 alligators living in Alabama today. In Texas, alligators live in the eastern portion . This snake has a distinctive broadhead that is much larger than its narrow body. Watch Your Pets Pets are similar in size to natural prey of alligators and their movements will often attract an alligators interest. The Mobile-Tensaw river delta offers you a lifetime experience of paddling the Bartram Canoe Trail. Meanwhile, in Louisiana, in August, following heavy rainfalls and floods caused by Hurricane Ida, a 12-foot-long alligatorbit a mans arm off in front of his wife. When paddling in a canoe, the oars scare away the reptile and prevent an attack. The American alligator can grow up to 11.2 feet (3.4 meters) long and weigh nearly half a ton (1,000 lbs. Registration will open June 7. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Females are about 8 to 9 feet in length. Since the beach is situated on the saltwater coastline and alligators cannot digest salt, they wont hang around for long, returning to their freshwater habitats of inland lakes, ponds, rivers, and marshes. Alligators range from central Texas eastward to North Carolina. On Tom Grant's last gator hunt, he caught an alligator that was 12'9" in length. The Alabama River is a river located in the U.S. state of Alabama. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. AgDaily, OutdoorHub All Rights Reserved Carbon Media Group Outdoors. A successful attack by an alligator while in water can cause a critical injury, resulting in an even quick drowning. Get the latest Offers, Outdoor News, Stories, and Reviews delivered to your inbox. A gator bite can lead to a fatality or inflict a life-changing injury. You can see an alligator in the Gulf Coast town without going far into the wild. Watch This Florida Woman Feed an Alligator, Are There Any Lakes with Alligators Near, Huge Florida Gator Eats a Smaller Florida, The Biggest Alligator Ever Found In Louisiana, The 10 Best Childrens Books About Alligators Reviewed and Ranked, alligator-infested state in the US in Florida, Texas comes in third for the total population, Epic Battles: The Largest Ever Alligator vs. What is the biggest alligator ever caught in Alabama? The state is quite famous for alligator farming and harvesting, accounting for hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue brought to the state. Alabama played a leading role in the restoration of the American alligatora national conservation success story. In 1938, Alabama was the first state to protect alligators. It may come as no surprise that Louisiana is the most alligator-infested state in the entire US. Alabama isn't well-known for its gators, but they have a total population of around 70,000 individuals! It is illegal to kill an alligator without a licence, unless in self-defence. Dauphin Island. Louisiana us almost 33 1/2 million acres total and 4.5 million acres are alligator habitat with 3 million of it being the coastal marshes. Lucky for them, Alabama has plenty of sources of fresh water for gators to choose from, including lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Of these yearlings, 8 will become subadults (reach 4 feet in . The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabamas natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. At six feet, an alligator matures sexually, and since the males grow much faster, they tend to mature earlier than females. With that being said, theres a particular swimming hole here in Alabama thats considered to be one of the clearest and bluest bodies of water in the state. Therefore, an alligator attack is rare unless they feel threatened or provoked. It is black with yellow banding when young and is generally brownish when adult. Colby is a freelance writer from Charlotte, North Carolina. Best Alabama Beaches Gulf Shores. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Discover the One Place on Earth that Crocodiles and Alligators Coexist. If an alligator passes in front of you, remain as still as possible and exit the water immediately. When going swimming, there are plenty of safe places to dip without the threat of alligators. Stokes and her crew took the gator in Mill Creek, a tributary of the Alabama River. Given its location on the ocean with many rivers, streams, marshes, lagoons, and lakes in the area, this begs the question: are there alligators in Gulf Shores, Alabama? American Alligators can be found throughout their range in freshwater swamps, marshes, rivers, lakes and streams. Cannibalism is common among alligators in areas where they are more populated. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Have some feedback for us? Just because you don't see the mother doesn't mean she isn't lurking nearby. A 2004 study of wild and captive alligators found that large individuals bite down with one of the most powerful bites ever recorded for a living animal. The conditions in the north of Alabama contribute to the declining growth rate of the gators population. Places you can swim without fear of alligators in Alabama, Safety Tips When Swimming In Alligator Infested Waters. Louisiana has the largest alligator population. Some individuals have been recorded living more than 100 years! Crocs are significantly larger than alligators, maxing out in size at 23 feet. And why is it on my car? But, just how do you stay safe around these apex predators? This will only give them more of a drive to attack, thinking that you provided the food, so you become the food!