Mating season for alligators is their most aggresive

By John Riolo CONTRIBUTOR

It’s that time of year again when alligators begin to mate; they become most aggressive during the mating and nesting season.

The human population of the Lowcountry seems to dramatically increase at this time each year. Retirees and families with children and pets move here and vacation here for all the reasons that make the Lowcountry a great place to live.

This means that people not acquainted with alligators must learn how to coexist with these native reptiles. Every year there are tragic cases of a pet or person being injured or even killed by an alligator. There are also calls by some who want something done about eliminating alligators in their area.

When I moved here 14 years ago, I wondered if menacing alligators could be trapped and released elsewhere. It is understandable, when someone sees a 6-foot-plus alligator walk across the lawn or road near their house or where their children play, that they become concerned.

Size itself is not necessarily a good indicator of how dangerous an alligator might be. The average adult size for a female alligator is about 8 feet. Males average about 12 feet. If a female alligator is defending a nest of eggs or her babies, she can be quite aggressive if anyone approaches.

There are two major things we can all do to protect ourselves from an alligator incident. First, be aware that a pond of any reasonable size in our area can host alligators. Second, don’t be tempted to feed them as if they are wildlife who appreciate our offerings.

We need to use caution when walking around the edge of ponds, especially if we are with small children or pets. Humans are not naturally on an alligator’s menu but there’s no point in tempting them. Part of the problem is that when people throw food to alligators, the gator makes the connection in its limited brain that food and people go together. The person who provided the food may or may not be in the greatest danger. It is the people who come later without food who are at greater risk.

We can’t relocate a dangerous animal where it will be a danger to some other community. While we use nice euphemisms such as “put it down” or “put them sleep” when a “nuisance” gator is caught, the truth is that they must be killed by a licensed official of the county.

Let’s all remember the adage: “A fed alligator is a dead alligator.”

John Riolo lives in Moss Creek and is past president of the Nature Club of Moss Creek. john.a.riolo@gmail.com