By University of Georgia, Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
The American alligator is one of the biggest conservation success stories in U.S. history. One of the first species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Preservation Act in 1967. By 1987, they were the first species removed from the endangered species list.
Today, these incredible animals can be found in abundance throughout the southeastern U.S. in both fresh and brackish bodies of water. The American alligator is a reminder of what can be accomplished when government agencies, conservation groups, scientists and the public work together.
About the American alligator
American alligators are the second-largest reptile in North America, behind only the American crocodile. How can you tell the difference between the two? You can distinguish an alligator from a crocodile by the shape of their snout — alligators have a broader U-shaped snout, while crocodiles have a narrower V-shaped snout.
Adult male alligators typically reach up to 10 to 12 feet long and can weigh up to 500 pounds. The largest alligator ever recorded measured nearly 16 feet and over 1,000 pounds! Female alligators don’t get as large as their male counterparts and typically top out around 9 feet long.
Alligators are semi-aquatic, meaning they can be found both on land and in the water. They have large, powerful tails that propel them through the water at close to 20 mph over short distances. On land, their short, powerful legs allow them to walk between bodies of water.
Alligators have several unique adaptations. In addition to having two eyelids, just like people, alligators have a third eyelid called the nictitating membrane. This translucent membrane goes from the front to the back of their eye and covers the eye when they submerge, preventing their eye from getting scratched. Alligators can close off their nostrils, ears and throat when they submerge, a feature that ensures they don’t get water in their lungs. These adaptations are also useful when hunting, protecting them from getting injured by their prey.
Rather than actively hunting their prey, alligators will wait at the water’s edge, often just below the surface, for any mammal, reptile or bird to get too close before lunging out of the water, grabbing them with their powerful jaws and dragging them back into the water. While they are powerful predators with jaws capable of generating up to 1,200 pounds per square inch, they aren’t man-eaters like many television shows and movies portray. In fact, alligators have an innate fear of humans. As adults, we’re too big for them to consider us food and they see us as a potential threat to their survival.
Coexistence with alligators
While the alligator species has rebounded as a whole, there are still many populations within their range facing significant threats, particularly those residing around residential and commercial areas.
People in these areas fear alligators and the common solution is to remove the alligators. The problem with this approach is that other alligators will migrate in to take the place of the ones departing, creating an endless cycle of removal that can deplete or eradicate both the local population and the population surrounding the residential or commercial area.
What many people don’t realize is this unintended and undesired consequence is avoidable, as it’s possible to safely coexist with alligators by following a few easy rules:
- Never feed an alligator. Alligators have an incredible capacity for learned behavior, just like if you feed your dog from the table. If you feed an alligator once, they’ll beg for food from then on.
- Stay out of the water. Alligators are at home in the water and people aren’t. On land, we appear too big for an alligator to consider as food, but in the water we appear much smaller. Alligators may then think a human is potential prey.
- Don’t crouch by the edge of the water. Just like when you enter the water, when you crouch by the water’s edge you look significantly smaller to an alligator. This again may lead an alligator to think you are potential prey.
- Keep pets away from the edge of the water. Alligators don’t have the ability to distinguish between prey and pets. When they see a dog, they see a small four-legged animal, one of their main prey sources.
- Give alligators their space. Viewing alligators can be exciting, but stay at least 50 feet away. Alligators are quick over short distances, so getting too close can put you in a dangerous situation. If you hear an alligator growl or hiss, you’re too close and should calmly but quickly back away.
- Assume alligators are present. If you’re within range of alligators, assume every fresh body of water has an alligator in it. Alligators have great camouflage, so just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t present.
The importance of alligators
The American alligator is a keystone species that’s vital to the balance of the ecosystems where they’re found. Removing alligators can create a cascading effect that can drastically decrease an ecosystem’s health and can impact ecological biodiversity, human health and property and even our local economies.
They’re ecosystem engineers, meaning they modify their ecosystem in a way that benefits other species. There are three main ways in which alligators modify their habitat: by creating dens, wallows and nests.
Where alligators live
Alligator dens and wallows provide refuge during times of drought, as these areas are deeper than the surrounding area and retain water after many other areas have dried up. This provides valuable habitat for fish and amphibians that need continuous access to fresh water.
Alligator nests are different, providing a dry nesting habitat for other animals, such as turtles and lizards. Nest mounds can be 3 to 4 feet tall to ensure the eggs within don’t drown if the water rises. In swampy areas where dry land can be difficult to find, this is invaluable for other egg-laying reptiles. In areas where alligators have been removed, a drastic decrease in biodiversity, particularly in amphibians, has been documented.
Alligators provide ecosystem benefits
Alligators also provide many ecosystem services that benefit humans. One is population control. As opportunistic predators, they control the population of several species, such as deer, raccoons, possums, fish, reptiles and even birds. Alligators also provide nutrient cycling as they stir up the dirt and mud, allowing for increased plant production and biodiversity.
Some bird species even choose roosting or nesting sites with alligators. Birds do this because alligators provide protection for their nests from small predators, such as raccoons, that may try to snatch the eggs. In areas where alligators have been removed, the abundance of small mammals explodes because there are fewer predators to regulate their population numbers.
Alligator research
The University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant Coastal Ecology Lab conducts research on American alligators in the Okefenokee Swamp and along the Georgia coast. The Coastal Ecology Lab focuses on alligator behavior, genetics, epigenetics, movement and human conflict resolution.
Their goal is to gain a better understanding of alligator’s natural history so they can manage and conserve the Georgia alligator population for future generations. Their research uncovered three key observations:
- Female alligators will facilitate the feeding of their new hatchlings. A female alligator will stir up the muddy bottom, layered with invertebrates and fish, and use her tail to push the prey towards her hatchlings. This increase in the concentration of prey gives the hatchlings a greater opportunity to learn how to hunt.
- Alligators don’t always have strict territories. Using GPS satellite tags, it was determined that while alligators can be territorial, particularly during mating season, they aren’t always. Sometimes they exhibit what’s called relaxed territoriality. Relaxed territoriality is where animals partition themselves temporally rather than spatially. In other words, two alligators may share the same area but not at the same time.
- Dominant males and females play an important role in the genetic makeup of the population. A dominant male or female controls access to resources and mates, and as a result, they often have the best resources and thus a better chance at continuing their lineage. This means that a significant portion of the population may be direct descendants of those dominant individuals. When a new alligator takes over dominance, it can cause a dramatic shift in the genetic makeup of the population. The new dominant male and female are now producing the most offspring and driving off animals that would be competition, often descendants of the previous dominant individuals.
How you can help alligators
- Share your knowledge. Tell others how to coexist with alligators, and that they’re not the man-eaters many think they are.
- Talk to your homeowner’s association. If you live in a community with alligators, let your HOA or other management agency know you want the alligators in your neighborhood. Many times, the default is to remove alligators out of fear, and they’ll continue being removed and euthanized unless those in charge hear otherwise from community members.
- Practice alligator safety. By practicing the coexistence rules mentioned in this article, it’s possible to live safely near alligators.
- Keep your waterways clean. Alligators can be very curious and can mistake trash for food. By properly disposing of your trash, you’re helping not only alligators but many other species.
- Donate to alligator conservation and research. An easy way to make an impact is to donate to the organizations and agencies working to learn more about alligators. Make sure to do your research first to ensure your money is being used ethically and reliably. Donate to alligator research in the Okefenokee by visiting this link.
