| American Alligator Alligator mississpiensis RA Name: "Dean Martin" RA Diet: roaches, crickets, fish, rodents This animal is not available for Hands-on or Birthday shows. Range: American South East Habitat: Swamplands. Natural Diet: Fish,
insects, mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Size:
Lifespan: 40+ years Alligators are illegal to keep as pets, in most parts of the United States. Feeding them in the wild is unlawful. |
 Reproduction: Builds compost nest four feet high and six feet in diameter. Lays up to 60 eggs. Mother guards the nest against birds, opossum, and other predators. Protect the babies for up to 2 years. Conservation: Success story! Populations were once nearly hunted to extinction for food and leather goods. They were even used as a food source during the Civil War. It is illegal to hunt, harass, collect, or even feed wild alligators. Populations are nearly recovered. All 'gator products found today are from captive farmed populations. Just like cows! Alligators have the most powerful jaws in the animal kingdom. Their jaws have a crushing power of 3,000 pounds per square inch. Crocodilians roll in the water to break food up into swallowable portions. They do not naturally attack humans, they are afraid of us. Some individuals illegally feed alligators however; they lose fear of humans and look to them for food, turning them in to problem alligators that often times end up euthanized. |