A is for Alligator! Or one BIG Lizard!

American Alligator (Click for larger view - if you dare!)

The American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is a semi-aquatic reptile native to Texas. The name alligator comes from the Spanish word "el lagarto" which means lizard. WOW!! That's one big lizard! Alligators have been reported as long as 19 feet, however, a large adult is usually closer to 10 or 12 feet long.

Alligators in Texas can be found in rivers, lakes, canals, marshes, swamps and bayous. However, don't rule out any body of water, I have seen them in livestock ponds and heard of them taking up residence in golf course ponds.

Because alligators are reptiles, they are considered to be a cold-blooded animal. This means an alligator is limited to how much it can control it's own body temperature. On warm days you may spot an alligator lying out on a log or a river bank "sunning" itself. At other times, an alligator will be completely submerged with only it's nostrils and eyes barely above the water.



It appears the general rule concerning an alligators diet is... any animal it can catch, is an animal that it will eat. Prey includes fish, softshell turtles, snakes, wading birds, otters, raccoons and occasionally white-tailed deer. ALWAYS keep pets away from any body of water that might contain an alligator. They may appear to be sleeping, but an alligator is always aware of it's surroundings and can move extremely fast when it decides to.

Alligators and humans: According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department alligators rarely attack humans. It is suggested to stay at least 30 feet from all alligators that you may see and never to attempt to feed one. It is reported that most alligators that might pose a problem are ones that have been fed by humans. This causes an alligator to associate humans with a free meal and to lose their fear of humans, which are their only predators.


There are a number of areas to view alligators, all of these photographs were taken at the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. I have a very healthy respect for alligators, large and small, these photographs were taken with a long telephoto lens! Brazos Bend State Park is also home to an untold number of alligators, I have numerous photographs from this park that are currently on hold for a project, but I will post them when I can.



This is the boardwalk that I was on for the alligator picture above. At the far left you can see part of an interpretive sign that gives information about, you guessed it, alligators. The small wooden structure is a conveniently located wildlife blind. I turned around to take this last shot as we were all headed quickly back to the car due the black storm clouds rolling in.