Here at Wild Florida, we are crazy about gators. We love seeing them when we go out on airboat tours; we have some in our Wildlife Park; and we feature them in our gift shop. We wanted to feature a spotlight on these wondrous creatures, as we’re thinking they get a pretty bad rap.
Did you know that American alligators once faced extinction? It’s true. The US Fish and Wildlife Service put them on the endangered species list in 1967, but they were removed just 20 years later due to the effective legal protection that being on the endangered species list gave them. There are over one million American alligators on Earth today. The main threat of alligators now is the destruction of their own habitat brought forth by draining and developing wetlands.
Alligators live mostly in Florida and Louisiana, and you can find them in rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, bayous and marshes. They are great swimmers, and they are definitely built better for life in the water than life on land. A male alligator usually grows 10 - 15 feet long with a tail that takes up around half of its length.
Female alligators seem really scary, but as mothers, they are gentle. Female alligators make nests on shore, and that’s where she lays her eggs. Once the eggs are hatched, she carries the babies in her mouth to nearby water.
If you’re interested in airboat tours, alligators and other wildlife, come visit us at Wild Florida, just a short drive outside of Orlando. Visit our website to book tickets today.
