The American Alligator

A keystone species of the Lowcountry, the American alligator shapes its environment and the other species that share it. Put simply, alligators are a fact of life in Hilton Head Island and Bluffton.

The alligator’s natural behaviors provide services vital to the balance and survival of other species. Holes, trails and nests created by alligators serve as habitats for other reptiles, birds and animals. During dry spells, alligator holes may be the only source of water for area wildlife. Although it may sound odd, some breeding birds such as storks, herons, ibises and egrets preferred nesting place is over an alligator’s habitat. The alligator keeps other predators away and feeds on the chicks that fall from the nests.

Alligators range in size from approximately nine inches to thirteen feet long. They are usually black in color with white underbodies. Alligators can be found in any freshwater body – lagoons, rivers, lakes, swampy regions as well as brackish and saltwater habitats.

When on the hunt, alligators typically attack from the water. They cannot differentiate between their usual prey or a house pet or splashing human. Alligators are typically active from dusk to dawn. The usual alligator diet is comprised of wading birds, fish and frogs, small mammals, turtles and occasionally smaller alligators. Alligators may spend the better part of their day basking in the sun. Juveniles can often be seen on the move, searching for food and avoiding larger males.

Staying safe around these Lowcountry natives is a matter of common sense and situational awareness. Stay at least sixty feet from alligators. Keep your pets leashed and your children close when in proximity to any bodies of water. Never harass an alligator of any size (smaller is not safer) and leave nests undisturbed.

Feeding alligators is illegal. Alligators who are fed are attracted to humans and shed their natural shyness. Do not throw your food scraps in any bodies of water, this still constitutes feeding alligators.

A nuisance alligator is defined as one that has lost its fear of humans (primarily a result of illegal feeding) and may cause harm to humans or property and/or is trapped in an area where it should not be. An alligator is not considered a nuisance simply because it is an alligator or is found in an unexpected location. When left alone, most alligators move on.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources does not relocate alligators. If an alligator is a nuisance in one place, it will continue to be a nuisance in another. Also, alligators have a keen homing instinct, rendering relocation ineffective. All alligators deemed a nuisance in the State of South Carolina will be euthanized.

We here in the Lowcountry are blessed with a vibrant, flourishing eco-system and the American alligator is a vital part of it. Admire their resilience, respect their space and please, please Do Not Feed the Alligators!