The American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is a native and thriving resident of Alabama’s waterways. This large reptile represents a successful conservation story, having rebounded significantly from near-extinction decades ago. Alabama marks the northern extent of the alligator’s historical range, though populations are now well-established throughout the southern half of the state. While they prefer warm, slow-moving freshwater, their adaptable nature means they can be encountered in various aquatic environments.
Presence and Identification
The American Alligator is the only alligator species found in Alabama. They are distinguished from crocodiles by their broad, rounded snout and the way the upper jaw overlaps the lower, concealing the lower teeth when the mouth is closed. Alligators in Alabama tend to be slightly smaller than those found further south, due to the cooler climate at the northern edge of their range. Adult males typically reach lengths of 10 to 11 feet, while females are smaller, averaging around 8 feet in length.
The species faced a severe threat of extinction in the mid-20th century due to unregulated hunting. Alabama took a pioneering step in 1938 by becoming the first state to pass laws protecting the population. This protection, followed by federal listing in 1967, allowed the population to recover. The American Alligator was officially removed from the Endangered Species List in 1987, though it remains a federally protected species.
Where Alligators Live in Alabama
The highest concentration of alligators is found in the coastal plain and the vast wetland system of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. This delta, a major convergence of six rivers, provides an ideal habitat of freshwater swamps and marshes. Counties bordering the coast, such as Mobile and Baldwin, have the most frequent sightings.
Alligators utilize a variety of habitats, including sluggish rivers, man-made lakes, reservoirs, and ponds. They can also tolerate brackish water, and are sometimes sighted in tidal estuaries and bays along the Gulf Coast. A smaller but persistent population exists farther north in the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge near the Tennessee River, which is the result of a reintroduction effort decades ago.
Living Safely Alongside Alligators
Safely coexisting with alligators requires maintaining their natural fear of humans. It is illegal to feed alligators in Alabama because fed alligators quickly lose their wariness and begin to associate people with food, leading to dangerous encounters. You should never approach an alligator, regardless of its size; a distance of at least 60 feet is recommended.
Homeowners near water should keep pets and children away from the water’s edge, as splashing near the bank can attract an alligator’s attention. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn, so swimming at night in unfenced waters should be avoided. If an alligator is spotted in a yard, pool, or other unusual area, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) should be contacted immediately.
State Management and Population Growth
The ADCNR actively manages the state’s healthy alligator population through a regulated system. The successful conservation efforts that led to the species’ recovery also led to a population boom, and alligators have become a nuisance in some areas. To manage this growth, the state implemented a highly regulated and limited public alligator hunting season starting in 2006.
This hunting season is conducted in specific Alligator Management Areas. Hunters are selected through a lottery system for a limited number of tags. For alligators deemed a public safety threat, the ADCNR employs a Nuisance Control Hunter (NCH) program. When a complaint is received, the situation is assessed to determine if the alligator poses a genuine nuisance. This may result in the animal’s removal, either through live capture or, more commonly for larger animals, lethal removal.