TEXAS ALLIGATOR FACTS

Name: American Alligator — Alligator mississippiensis. “Alligator” is a corruption of the Spanish “el lagarto” or lizard, in reference to its large, lizard-like appearance. Range: In Texas, the alligator ranges from the Sabine River of East Texas to the Gulf of Mexico and across the coastal marshes to the Rio Grande. This range includes about 120 counties in East Texas and the Gulf Coastal Plains.

Size/Age: Newly hatched alligators measure 8-9 inches in length. Males and females grow at similar rates until they reach three feet. After that, females grow much slower. A Louisiana study revealed that male alligators at age 10 averaged 8.4 feet. Females age 10 were about 6.9 feet. At age 20, females measured 8.4 feet and males 11.5 feet. Any alligator over 9 feet is almost certainly a male. The longest recorded length for an alligator is 19 feet 2 inches. This massive animal was taken in Louisiana in 1890. An alligator this size could weigh as much as 1,000 pounds. Males regularly reach ages of 35-40 years in the wild. In captivity, they have reached 50-60 years of age. Older males are the exception, not the rule. Females are not as long-lived. Under captive conditions, they often reach 30-35 years. Probably few wild females live that long.

Food: Young alligators eat spiders, insects, crayfish, shrimp, minnows and crabs. As they grow larger, they begin to feed on fish, small turtles, frogs, snakes and small birds. Alligators 4 feet and longer eat a wide variety of food items and are very opportunistic. Large turtles, fish, wading birds, ducks, muskrats, nutria, otters, raccoons, even other alligators and an occasional deer are eaten. Carrion is also a major dietary component.

Nest: Courtship and mating occur in late spring and early summer. Typically, female alligators lay their eggs in mid-June into early July. The nest mound is composed of grasses, cattails and mud. The female lays 15-60 eggs in the mound and flattens it by crawling across it. The sun and decaying vegetation provide the heat for incubation. The eggs hatch in 65-70 days, usually in late August and early September. Alligators With the human population in Texas continuing to expand, increased contact between people and alligators can and be expected.

People: Alligators naturally shy away from humans. Problems arise when alligators are fed by people. The alligator loses its fear of humans and begins to associate people with food. This produces a potentially dangerous situation. An alligator that has been frequently hand-fed will often lunge at an outstretched hand. This action is often interpreted as an “alligator attack.” In reality, the alligator has been conditioned to respond to an outstretched hand, expecting to be fed. For this reason feeding of any wild alligator is not recommended.

The normally sluggish alligator can become quite agile if unexpectedly disturbed or annoyed. People and pets should not approach alligators closely. This is particularly true of nesting females. As with all wild animals, alligators should be treated with respect.

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Alligators are protected by law. Any potentially dangerous alligator should be reported to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department so that proper handling can be initiated. Contact your local game warden or call 1-800-792-1112.

Alligator-human conflicts are rare in Texas. One human fatality has been attributed to an alligator attack in Texas. A 28-year-old man was killed on July 3, 2015 from an alligator attack in Orange, Texas. Good judgment on the part of humans can keep incidents to a minimum.

For further information, contact the Alligator Program of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at (409) 736-3625, or e-mail txgator.info@tpwd.texas.gov