The American Alligator

American Alligator, photographed by Jerry Gingerich on 2 July 1995. Retrieved from AnimalDiversity.org

​The American alligator is a large reptile native to the southeastern united states Previously the American alligator was a federally listed endangered species. In the early 1900s the alligator was hunted close to extinction which brought it to be listed under the Endangered Species Act. The hunting of these animals was prohibited, and their habitat was protected. In the 1980s the species had recovered enough to be removed from the endangered species list. Today, however, the large reptile is still protected due to its similar appearance to the American crocodile which is currently protected due to low population numbers (they are on the rise though!) Hunting of the American alligator is currently allowed, but it is regulated.

American Alligator, photo by Brian Imparato; retrieved from National Wildlife Foundation

An American Alligator rests on the shore of the alligator lagoon at Everglades Alligator Farm in Homestead, Florida, on June 24, 2016. RHONA WISE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES - retrieved from NewsWeek, "Alligator filmed swimming in the ocean off Florida beach in rare sighting"

Photograph by M. Squires - American Alligator basking

​The American alligator is a long lived species which can live well over 60 years of age. They are ectotherms, meaning they use the environment to regulate their body temperatures and must move to warmer and cooler areas in order to change the temperature of their bodies. Alligators can often be seen basking on the banks of levees and water bodies, or floating on the surface of the water soaking up some rays of sunshine. Occasionally they will bask with their mouths open, which acts to cool them.

Alligator swimming - photographer unknown

​The alligator is a very important ecological engineer. They modify the wetlands that they inhabit in a way that creates mini habitats for other species to thrive in. The creation of nests provide dry ground in wet areas, and the digging of “gator holes” allow for pockets of deeper water for fish to thrive. During the dry season the gator holes are of particular importance for wetland species who need water to thrive or feed primarily on fish.

Alligators are known for their large size. Adults can grow to be over 12 feet in length and weigh over 800lbs. They are not always so colossal, though. When they first hatch, alligators are only around 8 inches long from the tip of their nose to the tip of their tails, and weigh less than a pound -talk about having BIG potential! 

Alligator nest sitting above the water

Young Alligator

Although the state of Florida has a reputation for being the prime spot for alligators, the large reptiles can be found in several other south eastern United States. The northern most extent of the American Alligators range is North Carolina, all the way to eastern Texas, and then the furthest south you will find them is in Florida. In total, their range is accepted to encompass 8 south eastern states, with a few pockets in the south edges of Arkansas and Oklahoma.

In addition to the usual alligator information I also wanted to touch on the reputation of alligators. Popular culture often depicts alligators in a not-so-positive light. Most recently, the movie "Crawl" had alligators starring as the 'villain' of the show. The reality is that Alligators rarely attack people when left to themselves. 

Adult alligator - photographer unknown

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have statistics that show alligator attacks have actually increased from around 6 per year in 1971-1986 to around 10 per year from 1987-2017. This is likely due to human population increasing in the areas that alligators call home. Another source showed that human population was positively correlated with alligator attacks - more people, more likely the chance of an encounter. Humans also increase their chances of conflict by feeding alligaors (intentionally or unintentionally - throwing fish off the dock when alligators are present in the area can produce a similar association as feeding the gators), swimming in bodies of fresh water which gators are present in, allowing pets or children to play or drink from open bodies of fresh water, and generally approaching alligators fro photographs or not giving the animals space. The best way to mitigate conflicts with alligators are to simply leave them alone.

More information on American alligators can be found:

1. https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/alligator/data/
2. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/a/american-alligator/
3. https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/american-alligator
4. https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/American-Alligator​
5. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Alligator_mississippiensis/
   

​About the Author: Jenna is a graduate student at the University of Florida. Currently she is studying Wildlife Ecology and Conservation while working in south Florida to manage invasive animals. Jenna primarily works with the Argentine Black and White Tegu and other invasive lizards