9-21. Their habitat can extend north to Gate County. Alligator vs Crocodile: 10 Simple Differences - More Reptiles Because of these benefits, the government gradually reintroduced alligators into the ecosystem in the Alabama area. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. [21][22] A small population is also found in Tamaulipas, in Mexico. In: C. A. Ross (consulting editor). Report injured, orphaned or dead manatees, Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, Wild Alligator Harvests by Harvest Program, Table of officially-measured, large Florida alligators, Alligator Meat Processors and Hide Buyers, See a full list of our Social Media accounts. In Hancock, there are 3,900 alligators. Meshaka, W. E., Jr., W. F. Loftus, and T. Steiner. The gastroliths work to grind up the meal as alligators will take large bites or swallow smaller prey whole. Alabama is in the outlying part of the American Alligators range, so the population boom was a bit slower there. 240 pp. ). Endangered Species Act. In some cases, larger alligators are known to ambush dogs, Florida panthers and black bears, making them the apex predator throughout their distribution. The baby alligator's egg tooth helps it get out of its egg during hatching time. (TDEC) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) are working together to manage the alligator population in the state to ensure that it is managed in a safe and responsible manner. Most of them are in Robeson County. The expansion of Alligators into Tennessee is just one of many species that we must learn to coexist with in our state. There are no crocs in both states. Quora - A place to share knowledge and better understand the world While they may occasionally show up in others, they arent breeding and living there year-round. Gabrey, S. W. 2005. Also, you may spot them as shiny pink eyes in the water if you are out at night. LDWF manages the American alligator as a commercial, renewable natural resource. There are also gators in Macon. [41] The mother defends the nest from predators and assists the hatchlings to water. Disclaimer We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Alligator populations are exploding across Alabama due to the rigorous application of anti-poaching laws, migration of more of these reptiles to the state, efforts to reintroduce them to the ecosystem, increased sightings during the summer breeding season, and a delay in legalizing alligator hunting. The muscles that close the jaws are powerful, but the muscles for opening their jaws are weak. Florida is also the home of the worlds largest gator population, which is estimated to be between 1,000 and 2,500 individuals. The son of a woman killed by an alligator in Sun City has filed a wrongful . Hunters pay for gator tags from the government each year, which gives them per it to hunt gators and sell them. Additionally, several extinct species of alligator are known from fossil remains. Alligators are cold-blooded and live in warm areas. Most of the gators fall in the lower half of the state, with populations in the northern half being nearly non-existent. Miami MetroZoo in Florida also has a breeding pair of Chinese alligators.