American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) - Louisiana - Native to southeastern United States - Most abundant in the coastal marshes of Louisiana - Has been known to reach lengths of nearly 20 feet but such individuals are extremely rare today - No individual over 14 feet has been taken in Louisiana since the state reopened legal trapping in 1972 - Occurs in many bodies of still or slow moving water - Feeds on virtually any animal they can capture and crush with their powerful jaws - Harvested for their skins and meat - Female alligators do not breed until nearly 10 years old - Mating occurs in April and May -Makes large nest that female protects from predators - Nest building and egg laying occur from end of May to first week in July - Eggs number from 2 to 58 - Once very rare due to persecution and overhunting - Legal protection has allowed populations to bounce back in many areas enough to allow legal harvesting for skins and meat

030220 Abundant Alligator Alligators Bodies Bounce Capture Crush Extremely Feeds Feet Harvested Harvesting Jaws Legal Lengths Louisiana Makes Marshes Meat Mississippiensis Moving Native Number Occur Occurs Persecution Populations Powerful Protects Reach Skins Slow Southeastern Today Trapping Week Years

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