American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) are a native species found in healthy populations across Alabama’s wetland ecosystems. The alligator is a protected species, and its management is overseen by state wildlife officials who monitor its growth and manage human-alligator interactions.
Where Alligators Are Found in Alabama
The highest concentrations of alligators exist in the southern third of the state, where extensive wetland habitats provide optimal conditions. The Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, a vast network of swamps and marshes, is considered a primary stronghold for the species. Coastal counties, particularly Mobile and Baldwin, feature numerous brackish and freshwater areas where alligator populations thrive.
Alligators are increasingly sighted farther north as their range has expanded. Rivers and lakes in central Alabama, such as the Conecuh, Perdido, and the Alabama River near Montgomery, have established populations. A small, introduced population also exists at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge along the Tennessee River in the northern part of the state.
History and Recovery of Alabama’s Alligator Population
The American alligator faced near-extinction across the South due to unregulated hunting and habitat destruction in the mid-20th century. Alabama was a leader in conservation, becoming the first state to pass laws protecting the reptile in 1938. Despite early state protection, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the American alligator as endangered in 1967.
Federal protection under the Endangered Species Act allowed the population to stabilize and recover over two decades. By 1987, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined the species had rebounded sufficiently to be removed from the endangered list. The alligator remains federally protected, a status that prevents accidental shooting due to its similarity in appearance to the endangered American crocodile.
Safety Guidelines for Coexisting with Alligators
Never feed alligators, as this causes them to lose their natural fear of humans and associate people with food. This learned behavior is dangerous and may require the alligator’s removal by wildlife officials. Pet owners should keep dogs on a leash and away from the water’s edge, as pets resemble the natural prey of larger alligators.
If an alligator is spotted, people should maintain a respectful distance and avoid approaching it for observation or photography. Swimming in waters known to harbor alligators should be avoided, particularly between dusk and dawn when they are most active and feeding. Proper disposal of fish scraps and cleaning debris away from the water also prevents attracting alligators to areas of human activity.
Alligator Management and Hunting Seasons
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) manages the alligator population to maintain ecological balance and mitigate human conflict. Population control is managed through limited, regulated public hunting seasons. These hunts occur in five designated Alligator Management Areas (AMAs) where populations are high enough to support controlled harvest.
Participation in the alligator hunt is restricted to a small number of permits distributed through a random lottery system. The ADCNR maintains a protocol for addressing nuisance alligators, defined as those that pose a threat to people, pets, or livestock. When a nuisance is reported, the situation is assessed by wildlife biologists, and an agent may be dispatched for removal or relocation.