Alligators: They see me rolling... They Hating!
The American
alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), sometimes referred to colloquially as a
gator or common alligator, is a large crocodilian reptile endemic to the
Southeastern United States. It is one of two living species in the genus
Alligator within the family Alligatoridae and larger than the other extant
alligator species, the Chinese alligator. The American alligator inhabits
freshwater wetlands, such as marshes and cypress swamps from Texas to North
Carolina. It is distinguished from the sympatric American crocodile by its
broader snout, with overlapping jaws and darker coloration, and is less
tolerant of seawater but more tolerant of colder climates.
Alligators are apex
predators and consume fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Juveniles
feed on invertebrates. Alligators also play imporant roles in wetland
ecosystems through the creation of "alligator holes" which provide
wetter or drier habitats for other organisms. During the breeding season, males
bellow and use infrasound to attract females. Eggs are laid in a nest of
vegetation, sticks, leaves, and mud in a sheltered spot in or near the water.
Young are born with yellow bands around their bodies and are protected by their
mother.
The American
alligator is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for
Conservation of Nature. Historially, hunting has decimated their population and
the American alligator was listed as an endangered species by the Endangered
Species Act of 1973. Subsequent conservation efforts have allowed their numbers
to increase and the species was removed from the list in 1987. Alligators are
now harvested for their skins and meat. The species is the official state
reptile of three states: Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Alligators are
capable of killing humans, but are generally wary enough not to see them as a
potential prey. Mistaken identity leading to an attack is always possible,
especially in or near cloudy waters. Alligators are often less aggressive
towards humans than large crocodile species, a few of which (mainly the Nile
and Saltwater Crocodiles) may prey on humans with some regularity.[6][30]
Alligator bites are serious injuries due to the reptile's sheer bite force and
risk of infection. Even with medical treatment, an alligator bite may still
result in a fatal infection.[31]
As human populations
increase, and as they build houses in low lying areas, or hunt and fish near
water, there are inevitably incidents where alligators threaten, or at least
appear to threaten, human life. Humans tend to exaggerate causes of death that seem
unusual. Hence, alligators receive undue attention relative to other far more
common causes of death such as drowning or car accidents. Since 1948, there
have been 275 documented attacks on humans in Florida (that is, about five
incidents per year), of which at least 17 resulted in death.[32] There were
only nine fatal attacks in the US throughout the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, but
alligators killed 12 people between 2001 and 2007. In May 2006, alligators
killed three Floridians in less than a week.
Alligator wrestling
Several Florida
tourist attractions have taken advantage of fears and myths about alligators—as
well as the reality of their danger—through a practice known as alligator
wrestling. Created by the Miccosukee and Seminole tribes prior to the arrival
of Europeans, this tourism tradition continues to the present day despite
criticism from animal right activists. -Wikipedia
