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Are there alligators in greenville south carolina
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Next to dolphins, these menacing predators are the most popular wildlife attraction on the South Carolina coast. Everyone wants to see them—preferably from a safe distance. While often found lazily sunning themselves along ponds and lakes in the Lowcountry and Coastal Plain, alligators in the wild are best observed from afar. Edisto Island Serpentarium Home to hundreds of slithering, scaly reptiles, this unique attraction features lots of gators on display in outdoor observatories designed to resemble their natural habitats.
Or rent a canoe and venture deep into the cypress swamp on a 3-mile paddle trail. South Carolina Aquarium More than 5, animals make their home in the Charleston aquarium, among them, the American alligator.
Take a one-hour walk with a guide to learn fascinating facts about these cold-blooded creatures. You also can see them in their natural environment, feeding, sunning or cruising through the water in Mullet Pond. Bring your binoculars to get a closer look. They normally are found in marshes, swamps, rivers, farm ponds and lakes in the wild, but also have been found in ditches, neighborhoods, drainage canals, retention ponds, roadways, golf course ponds and sometimes in swimming pools.
Nearly any water body in the Lowcountry has the potential to harbor alligators at one time or another. During the remainder of the year, males prefer open and deep waters while females seek out nesting habitat in secluded areas with shallow water and heavy vegetation. Alligators can live up to 60 years in captivity, but in the wild they rarely live more than 50 years. Male alligators can presumably grow up to 16 feet in length, although footers are rare, whereas female alligators can grow up to 10 feet.
After breeding, females lay an average of 35 to 40 eggs that incubate for about 65 days. Hatchlings are about 8 to 10 inches in length. About 20 percent of the young will survive to maturity. The others fall victim to predators such as raccoons, birds, snakes, otters and other alligators.
They grow approximately eight to 10 inches per year for the first few years and will reach sexual maturity at about six to seven feet in length. Large alligators can reach weights of over pounds. During the first few years their diet consists mainly of small prey such as snails, crayfish, frogs, insects and other invertebrates. They help maintain the population balance of certain prey species and they help shape and modify habitat.
During times of severe drought, alligators are known to dig holes "gator holes" to concentrate water. This helps the alligator survive, and provides a water source to many other species of plants and animals in the area. In , the SCDNR initiated a problem alligator program that allows contracted agent trappers to capture and harvest specific problem alligators greater than four feet in length.
A nuisance alligator is one that exhibits aggressive behavior toward humans or domestic animals, has become habituated to people, shows symptoms of some debilitating illness or injury, or inhabits recreational waters intended primarily for swimming. South Carolina's alligator hunting season has been designated as a quota hunt where a limited number of hunters are allowed to harvest one alligator 4 feet or greater in length each from a specified hunt unit. A mother and her two children were killed after their vehicle caught fire in an early morning crash near Holly Hill, according to the Orangebu….
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Timm, and Gary E. Alligators are rarely found south of the Rio Grande drainage. Meet the Team. If we had an alligator that size in Lake Hartwell, someone would have seen it by now. Males can attain a size of more than 14 feet 4. Since alligators are not supposed to be here in the Upstate, it also frightens Upstate boaters or lake visitors when they see an alligator.
Are there alligators in greenville south carolina –
Alligators will not typically survive the harsh winters of the Upstate. Lucas said American alligators have, from time to time, been found in some of our Upstate reservoirs, such as Hartwell.
He said, when it happens, it means someone has removed them from the Lowcountry and kept them as pets. By the way, it's illegal to have a pet alligator in South Carolina, Lucas said. Lucas called releasing an alligator in a reservoir a "death sentence. Since alligators are not supposed to be here in the Upstate, it also frightens Upstate boaters or lake visitors when they see an alligator. By nature, American alligators are not aggressive animals and small alligators are no danger to humans, Lucas said.
Lucas said the American alligator habitat line is the Fall Line Sandhills region. It runs through South Carolina, roughly diagonally through the state following U. Route 1 and Interstate 20, passing through Camden and Aiken. You can find alligators and cottonmouths east and south of this line, but not above it. Lucas said most of the American alligators in South Carolina are found concentrated in the Coastal Zone the counties that touch the Atlantic Ocean , but they are also found throughout the Coastal Plain.
Alligators are freshwater animals. They are not saltwater creatures, although rarely you will see a photo of one that has mistakenly found its way to the ocean. Freshwater swamps are their natural habitat. Live Now. Press enter to search Type to Search. Could alligators really live in Lake Hartwell? Expert explains after social media hoax gets attention Share.
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– Are there alligators in greenville south carolina
Here are six not-so-scary ways to see an American alligator in South Carolina: Alligators are among the many reptiles on display at Edisto Island Serpentarium. Edisto Island . May 28, · The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is the only crocodilian native to South Carolina. Though once listed as a federally endangered species, populations . Jun 27, · Due to the number of alligator sightings in this city, it is now deemed one of South Carolina’s homes for alligators. A particular sighting happened recently, in May of .