Last updated on October 12th, 2024 at 11:19 pm
Alligators are not just found in Florida. The Mississippi Gulf Coast has a large healthy population. Unlike Florida however, Alligators don’t usually knock at the door waiting to be let in. Alligators in Mississippi generally do not swim in your pool. You have to go out of your way to see an Alligator in Mississippi unless you live on a bayou. As it happens, I do live on a bayou and the only Alligator that I have seen in my bayou the past many years has been a dead one on the bank while boating.
I thought that since I had not seen any there were very few. As it happens, I spoke with my neighbor who has a pier and boat house on the bayou. My neighbor told me that he had seen several Alligators on the bayou behind his house. To make my astonishment even greater, he showed me a photo on his phone of a giant alligator. The photo was of an alligator hanging from a lift.
Then, I learned that my neighbor down the street buys an alligator hunting license each year. This past year, he was in his boat on my bayou (his too) where he snagged this giant alligator. It took him and his family hours to deal with the alligator. He had to tow it in the water behind his boat about 6 miles to a boat fueling dock where they had a forklift. See the photo below of this massive creature.
Another alligator story
Another story about alligators starts with a new housing development in Biloxi on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. My wife and I stopped by the development to look at the homes (my brother was interested in moving here). We noticed a large pond in the development. I asked the agent if there were any alligators in the pond.
She was reluctant to answer in the affirmative if we did not like alligators. I then told her we liked them as long as they stayed in their environment. At that point, she volunteered that someone told her that they had seen one.
My brother and his wife arrived and we stopped at the same agent’s office in the development and my brother asked about alligators. She paused and my brother said he did not want them around. The agent said that she had never seen one. After we left the office, I told my brother about my encounter with her and we laughed. It seems people either like alligators or they do not. Some may prefer black bears walking about rather than alligators.
Alligator Hunting Stats for 2023
Mississippi
In 2023, Mississippi issued approximately 1,000 permits for alligator hunting. Notably, a record-breaking alligator was captured during the season, measuring 14 feet, 3 inches and weighing over 800 pounds.
Total Alligators Hunted in Mississippi: Around 1,000 alligators harvested
Florida
Florida’s alligator hunting season is highly regulated. In 2023, approximately 7,000 alligators were harvested across the state. The Florida alligator hunting program, which began in 1988, remains a model of sustainable wildlife management.
Total Alligators Hunted in Florida: Around 7,000 alligators harvested
Both Mississippi and Florida maintain strict regulations to ensure the sustainability of their alligator populations.
Alligators’ reputation precedes them
Unfortunately for alligators, their reputation from Florida proceeds them. We have all seen on TV or read an article about how an alligator dragged a person into the water and ate them. How about the number of alligators each year that end up in swimming pools or on the front porch?
Florida seems to have a unique alligator situation which has caused people to not move to Florida just because they did not want an unwanted guest. Nuisance alligators must be removed from private property and roads on a regular basis.
Southern Florida at times may seem to have more wild alligators than humans in the large swamps. This Florida situation is completely different than the Mississippi experience. Our alligators in Mississippi do not play golf so they will never be considered a hazard. In Florida, golf courses are their natural environment.
Alligators love the golf course
The first time you golf in Florida you will learn not to try and remove a ball from a water hazard. Not only will you have the typical hazards any golf course has but alligators are an added benefit. The first thing you do is to assess how fast your teammates can run. You will need to run faster.
After talking with a golfer friend, he indicated that from time to time he encounters a baby alligator on the golf course he plays on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The course is very close to the Gulf and there are grasslands and bayous nearby. So far, no fatalities from baby alligators on any Mississippi golf course that I am aware of.
An alligator’s natural habitat in Mississippi is usually swimming in a bayou or river near the Gulf Coast. For some reason, alligators in Mississippi don’t care for open water or to walk along the side of the road.
The American Alligators (alligator mississippinensis):
- The most common and widely known species in the U.S. (the only one in the wild)
- Found primarily in the southeastern United States, including states like Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, and the Carolinas.
- They inhabit freshwater environments like swamps, rivers, lakes, and marshes.
- Adult males can grow up to 15 feet (4.6 meters) in length, though most are smaller.
Alligators are often blamed for being alligators. They are opportunists. They will eat almost anything if they are hungry. People’s dogs and cats are often on the menu. We recommend that you keep our pets away from areas with alligators.
As you can see, Mississippi is one of the best places to see alligators at an alligator farm or at the Gulf Islands National Seashore located in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. There are several parts to the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The Davis Bayou Area is the facility that has alligators.
I have been there many times and some of the photos of alligators are below for you to see. My wife and I are not sure if it’s the same alligator or if the one we see is part of a family. The alligator is usually sunbathing and as mentioned often has turtles as company.
No alligator alley in Mississippi
Unfortunately, Mississippi does not have an alligator alley as you will find in Florida. Zoos in the South usually have alligators and sometimes in a live show. The best way to see an alligator is to arrive where they are expected to be in the afternoon when it’s warm and the sun is out. As mentioned above, they love mud banks and sunny days. See the photo below of an alligator lounging on the mud bank while large wild turtles line up on a branch. Alligators love turtles yet they seem to coexist.
I recommend to people who come to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to see at least one live alligator. One place to find plenty of alligators is Horn Island located in the Gulf of Mexico just off of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. You must find someone with a boat to take you out there.
This island has some freshwater ponds where the alligators tend to congregate. They are further away from the areas where boaters love to camp. These alligators swim out from the mainland. Keep a safe distance from the alligators, they can be fast.
Best Time of Year to See Wild Alligators
If you’re looking to observe alligators in their natural habitat, the best time of year to do so is during the **spring and summer months**, specifically from **April to June**. Here’s why:
Warmer Weather and Activity
Alligators are cold-blooded reptiles, meaning they rely on external temperatures to regulate their body heat. As the weather warms up in the spring and summer, alligators become more active and are often seen basking in the sun along the banks of rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Mating Season
The alligator mating season occurs during **late spring and early summer**, making these months a particularly active time for alligator movement. You may hear male alligators bellowing to attract females, and they may be seen moving more frequently to find mates.
Best Months to See Alligators: April, May, and June
Where to Spot Them
Alligators are commonly found in **freshwater habitats** like swamps, rivers, lakes, and marshes, particularly in the southeastern U.S. states such as **Florida**, **Louisiana**, **South Carolina**, and **Georgia**.
While alligators can be seen year-round in warmer climates, they are most visible when the temperatures rise. Always remember to keep a safe distance when observing them in the wild.
Alligators can run how fast?
Alligators are surprisingly fast on land over short distances. They can run up to **35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour)** in short bursts. However, this speed is usually only seen when they are trying to escape a threat rather than chase prey.
Their sprinting speed is impressive, but it’s important to note that alligators tire quickly and are not built for long-distance running. They typically use this speed to move between water sources or when they feel threatened, so they’re more dangerous in the water than on land.
Most experts recommend that if you ever need to run from an alligator, run in a straight line as they usually give up after a short chase.
The Gulf Coast Gator Ranch
A great place to see alligators in their natural environment is a swamp at the Gulf Coast Gator Ranch. Located in Moss Point, MS, they take you on airboat rides and point out a baby alligator from time to time. Often alligators only have their nose and eyes sticking out of the water so they are hard to spot.
A friend of mine who lives in Louisiana (another place with lots of alligators) can spot an alligator in a pond while driving on the interstate. If you go to the Gator Ranch, take a closer look at the ripple in the water. Feeding time is always interesting.
Your guided tour on the airboat tour is a great way to experience part of the country most people never see. There are other wild animals in the swamp which are all potential food for an alligator. Nature lovers will appreciate the natural landscape. If you are lucky you may see a white-tailed deer which a lucky alligator may catch from time to time.
What Do Alligators Eat?
Alligators are carnivorous and their diet varies depending on their size and age. Here’s a breakdown of what alligators typically eat at different life stages:
Young Alligators
- Insects like beetles, snails, and spiders
- Small fish and amphibians
- Crustaceans like crabs and crawfish
Adult Alligators
- Fish such as gar, catfish, and bass
- Birds including waterfowl and wading birds
- Small mammals such as muskrats and raccoons
- Reptiles like turtles and snakes
Larger Alligators
- Large mammals including deer and wild boar
- Occasionally other alligators
- Scavenge on carrion when available
Alligators are opportunistic feeders and will consume almost any animal they can catch. They typically swallow smaller prey whole and tear larger prey into smaller, digestible pieces.
Cajun Encounters Tour Co
Another place to experience alligators in a swamp is the Cajun Encounters Tour Co. located near New Orleans. They use flat-bottomed boats to guide you through the swamp. You will see giant cypress trees covered with moss and some of the largest birds in North America plus abundant wildlife.
There are many types of wildlife living with the alligators. They include possums, nutras, raccoons, deer, foxes, bobcats and more. The alligator show is similar to the Gulf Coast Gator Ranch but for those of you who can not get enough of the swamp, try out the Cajun Encounters operation.
Taking one of the swamp tours is an unforgettable experience for those who live in the big city. Our swamps are not the same as the Florida Everglades but they are big enough to give you a sense of being in a strange new environment.
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