American Alligator Fact Sheet

American Alligator Fact Sheet
American alligators inhabit
tween 20 and 60 eggs. The hard-
predation and can find enough
the southeastern United States.
shelled, white eggs are about 3
food, they may grow between 3
Once a federally listed endan-
inches long and resemble goose
and 8 inches in length yearly.
gered species, American alliga-
eggs. The mother defends the
When they reach lengths of
tors have recovered in many
nest against predators throughout
about 6 feet, they are considered
areas. The species is still feder-
the incubation period, about 65
adults.
ally listed as threatened because
days. When the eggs are ready to
it looks like the American
hatch, the mother alligator digs
RESEARCH
crocodile, which is endangered.
into the nest mound, opens any
Scientists at the Savannah
eggs that have not hatched and
River Ecology Laboratory have
HABITAT
carries the young down to the
studied American alligators on
Although they are primarily
water. Females sometimes
the Savannah River Site for
freshwater animals, alligators
aggressively defend their young
more than 25 years. They have
will venture into brackish salt
for more than a year.
recorded population sizes,
water. Alliga-
distribution
tors live in
and trends;
swampy areas,
animal sizes,
rivers,
sexes, activity
streams, lakes
periods, growth
and ponds. On
rates and
the Savannah
reproductive
River Site,
efforts; diet,
alligators
nutrition and
inhabit the
energetics;
Savannah
responses to
River, its
thermal efflu-
swamp and
ent from
tributaries, and
reactors into
Par Pond and other reservoirs on
cooling reservoirs; uptake of
the site.
FEEDING
radionuclides; genetic patterns
Alligators are opportunistic
and the conservation of the
BREEDING
feeders; adults eat fish, turtles,
species.
Alligators are active year
wading birds, snakes, frogs and
around, but they are most active
small mammals they find near
DID YOU KNOW?
in the warmer months in Georgia
the shoreline of their habitat.
t The largest recorded Ameri-
and South Carolina. With the
Young alligators feed on small
can alligator was 19 feet in
start of their breeding season in
fish and aquatic insects, but in
length.
May, males “bellow” to females
turn, they can be food for rac-
t Alligators and their relatives
and other males in the area. By
coons, crabs, various types of
are the last of the living reptiles
June, pairs have mated, and
wading birds and even fish.
that were closely related to
females begin building mound
Mother alligators that are
dinosaurs.
nests out of marsh reeds or other
killed or removed from the area
t Alligators and crocodiles are
vegetation.
cannot defend their nests or
related. But alligators have
Sometime during late June
young, and the hatchlings often
rounded snouts; most crocodile
or early July, females lay be-
are doomed. If the young escape
species have longer, pointed
This fact sheet was printed on recycled paper.

---

How You Can Safely
Observe Alligators
1. Don’t feed the
4. Keep your pets
alligators.
and children away
This is a most important rule!
from alligators.
Providing food for these wild
Large alligators do not recognize
snouts. Also, crocodiles occur
animals not only makes them
the difference between domestic
only in tropical and subtropical
bolder and encourages them to
pets and wild food sources.
areas (only south Florida in the
seek out people, it also alters
When they are hungry, alligators
United States). Alligators, on the
their natural diet in an unhealthy
act on their hunting instinct and
other hand, live in somewhat
way.
might attempt to feed on your
colder climates.
house pet if given the opportu-
t Alligators have a strong
2. Keep your
nity.
homing instinct and sometimes
distance.
will protect their “territory” from
Although they may look slow
5. Don’t swim in
other alligators.
and awkward, these animals are
areas that are
extremely powerful and can
known alligator
move with a startling burst of
habitats.
RANGE
speed on land over short dis-
Always be careful around water.
On the Atlantic Coast, they
tances. A safe distance from an
Splashing can attract
occur from Florida to coastal
adult alligator is about 60 feet.
alligators that think a prey
North Carolina. Alligators are
animal is injured. They may act
also found in the Upper Coastal
on instinct and attack.
3. Never disturb nests
Plain, which includes the Central
Or, a protective female may
Savannah River Area of Georgia
or small alligators.
Some female alligators protect
believe her young or eggs are
and South Carolina. In South
their young and may become
threatened and take defensive
Carolina, alligators have been
aggressive if provoked. A baby
action. Be cautious when fishing
recorded to reach lengths of
alligator should never be cap-
in waters with alligators, as some
more than 13 feet.
tured, even if the mother is not
will not hestitate to grab a
visible. She may be watching
hooked fish or eat the fish on a
you and decide to take action to
stringer.
protect her baby.
Advice to Remember
“Alligators are fascinating creatures and should by all means be enjoyed as part of the natural
beauty of our region. But please remember that they are wild animals and should be respected as such.
Once they become too familiar with people, they lose their fear of humans, necessitating their removal
from the area for the safety of everyone concerned. A few precautions on our part can help both
humans and alligators co-exist safely.”
--Dr. J. Whitfield Gibbons
SREL senior ecologist
This information is provided as a public service by The University of Georgia's
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory located on the Savannah River Site near Aiken,
S.C. For more information, call Outreach at (803) 725-0156 or Public Relations at
(803) 725-2473.

---