And before any next steps are taken regarding the alligators, more information would be needed on the specific population here in North Carolina. According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, “the American alligator is found in the United States from North Carolina to the Rio Grande in Texas. But for Matt Wilson, who lives on the lakeshore, a hunting season would help control what he sees as a growing alligator population. It took nearly a week to remove the reptile from the park, which was partially shut down during the search for the animal. Alligators do not hibernate as mammals do; they “brumate.” Being cold-blooded, they respond to the temperature of th… A conversation with RTI International researcher Robert Furberg about how technology like Fitbits and smart watches can... UNC-TV 10 UNC-TV Drive PO Box 14900Research Triangle Park, NC  27709-4900, UNC-TV e-GuideUNC-TV on FacebookUNC-TV on InstagramUNC-TV Rootle FacebookUNC-TV on Twitter UNC-TV on YouTubeMore UNC-TV Video, About UsPressroomEmploymentInternshipsDirectionsContact UsWhat's On, Donate NowMembership LevelsCorporate & FoundationSustained Giving Estate PlanningMatching GiftsDonate a CarVolunteer, Reports and ComplianceUNC-TV DMCA Agent Donor Bill of Rights Annual EEO ReportClosed Captioning Contact  FCC Public FilePublic File Contact, © 2020 UNC-TV and its licensors. Text us for exclusive photos and videos, royal news, and way more. That's a good thing. “People hunt deer, turkey, bear,” he said. A 12 foot monster blocked traffic in march on a back road in brunswick county according to news reports. Her arm and hand were later recovered from an 8.5-foot (2.6 m) alligator. “They have a chance to come in and take an alligator like they do in Florida and South Carolina, Georgia. So people are advised to take proper precautions while in alligator inhabited areas. “Because we don’t really have the necessary knowledge of population size and a lot of the natural history elements, we’ve not yet opened up a hunting season in North Carolina,” he said. Alligators in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Arkansas all seem to be found in the southern regions of the state. Alligators prefer living in fresh water lakes and slow-moving rivers and their associated wetlands. Alligators in North and South Carolina are mostly found along the coast. Not everyone in the town is comfortable with their reptilian neighbors. This reptile was found in the woods of Staten Island. Lake Norman is North Carolina’s largest manmade lake, with a surface area of 32,510 acres. The large reptile was caught in the surf and may actually have made his way up the southeastern coast -- from Florida -- by swimming, plain and simple. The words alligator comes from the Spanish word “el lagarto,” which means lizard. A doctor at UNC Medical Center is using... A potential new treatment of Covid-19 patients is being developed in Clayton, North Carolina. All rights reserved. Lake Waccamaw’s alligators are usually five to seven feet long. RELATED VIDEO: Alligator Snaps At Man Who Grabs Its Tail For A Photo. He estimates there are about 750 alligators in North Carolina and about 200 in Lake Waccamaw, but says it’s not clear whether the population is growing or even stable. American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) can be found throughout the coastal regions of the Southeast, with North Carolina being their northernmost known habitat. Children form an important topic in the American Community Survey (ACS), conducted each year by the U.S. Census Bureau. If you are thinking of obtaining a pet alligator for yourself, first check that it is legal to own a pet gator in your state, and then research the food, supplies and care pet alligators need to thrive, so you know if you are up to the task. She had been in the water for about three days. Lake Norman was created in the early 1960’s when the Duke Power Company dammed the Catawba River to generate hydroelectric power. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Adult alligators feed on fish, mammals, birds and other alligators. Pender, Brunswick and New Hanover counties have relatively large populations, with an especially high concentration in the Wilmington area. Discover the northernmost home of the American alligator. Lake Eufaula, also known as Walter F. George Lake, straddles the Alabama … Alligators are more abundant in Florida. July 2019 in Staten Island, New York: Shortly after a gator appeared swimming in a pool in Long Island, New York, another alligator appeared in the NYC Area. Alligators live in swampy areas, rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. Some are even pushing for a hunting season. You'll get the latest updates on this topic in your browser notifications. South Carolina isn’t the only state seeing the mysterious gators. Many alligators have been seen in recent years in the swampy areas of Dare and Hyde counties. This story was produced by students from the UNC School of Media and Journalism: Producer: Alex KelloggAssociate Producers: Lucy Banny & Emma KarlokScriptwriter & Narrator: Bronwyn BishopCamera/Video Editor: Bob GunterExecutive Producer: Dr. Tom Linden. Credit: The alligator was safely removed with help from a Florida alligator expert Chicago brought in to advise on the odd situation. Authorities are unsure how the gator go into the woods, but believe the reptile could be a former pet. They thrive in wetlands and brackish, marshy areas. Alligators typically mate from mid-May to early July in North Carolina, according to the state Wildlife Resource Commission. If you would like to opt out of browser push notifications, please refer to the following instructions specific to your device and browser: Here's a Map of All the Surprising Places Alligators Have Appeared Over the Past Year. Over the past year, strange alligator sightings have occurred all over the United States. If you believe alligator is in danger and/or a danger to others, you should contact a wildlife rescue professional and Animal Control for assistances. Here are some common misconceptions about alligators and how to stay safe around them when living in or visiting coastal North Carolina: 1) Just assume an alligator is there Coyote Ugly Turns 20: Where Is the Cast Now? If you live in a landlocked state and think your only chance of seeing an alligator is at a zoo, think again. According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, “the American alligator is found in the United States from North Carolina to the Rio Grande in Texas. But despite reports of young alligators in the surf, these big reptiles can’t live in the ocean. They also live in swamps, marshes and lakes.”. But biologist Ed Corey has a different view. “… July 2019 in Bayport, New York: A Long Island man discovered a baby alligator paddling around in his backyard pool during a heatwave. The American alligator ranges from coastal North Carolina to southern Florida and west to central Texas. The interest in exotic pet ownership is likely responsible. Introducing ... PEOPLE's Products Worth the Hype, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Police Warn Flushing Drugs Could Create Terrifying ‘Meth Gators’, The 3-foot-long animal was safely removed, paddling around in his backyard pool during a heatwave, responded to a reported alligator sighting in East Lyme’s Powers Lake, It took nearly a week to remove the reptile from the park, but finding one of the reptiles in your kitchen is, spent the past four years feeding the animal chicken nuggets and steak, a real 4-ft. gator with its mouth taped shut. There are only two species of alligator, the American alligator occurring in the southern United States, and the smaller Chinese alligator from eastern China. The SPCA was able to arrange a transfer for the baby gator. Her body was found in a canal near Oldsmar in Pinellas County, Florida, 20 miles (30 km) north of St. Petersburg. Clearwater Police Department. Crowders Mountain is being loved to death. “We actually had an alligator named Charlie, that you could clap your hands and Charlie would come right up to the bank and you could feed him off a stick,” said town commissioner Matt Wilson. It uses antibodies... How to tell the difference between COVID-19, allergies and the flu. Rob Carmichael, the center’s curator, told the Lake County News Sun that the thin, weak reptile had less than a few weeks left, especially with water temperatures in the lake dropping every day. Regardless of whether you live in an area where gators are native or not, you should never approach any alligator you see. The reptile is now living at a nature preserve in the South. Kelley Gandurski/AP/Shutterstock, Credit: Populations of alligators in South Carolina have done so well, that the DNR instituted a hunting season in 2008. Corey said people and alligators can co-exist, as long as residents recognize reptiles are wild animals, not leathery pets. Alligators are hemmed in to a narrower band of habitat today. It is illegal to own a pet alligator in Kansas City, so the animal was safely removed from the home and placed in a wildlife rescue that is home to several other former pet gators. May 2019 in Clearwater, Florida: Seeing an alligator around the waters of Clearwater, Florida, isn’t unusual, but finding one of the reptiles in your kitchen is. After removing the alligator from his pool and placing it in a tank, he called his local SPCA. Most of North Carolina's alligators are found in its southeastern corner. He is unsure how the animal ended up in New York, but did his part to care for the out of place critter. Calls to wildlife officers about alligators have surpassed 140 … October 2018 in Waukegan, Illinois: A kayaker enjoying Lake Michigan, discovered a real 4-ft. gator with its mouth taped shut when they paddled over to investigate what they thought was a gator-shaped pool float. Dr. Ellen Boyd, associate veterinarian at Animal House of Chicago, told the Chicago Tribune that a 5-foot-long alligator recently found in Chicago’s Humboldt Park was likely purchased as a pet when it was small, and was later abandoned in the wild when the animal became too much work and too large to care for. South Carolina In 2008, a 6-foot American crocodile made a rare appearance outside Florida -- at South Carolina's Isle of Palms, a common spot for vacationing. “Alligators do not have an instinct to attack humans,” he says. The many waterways of southeastern North Carolina provide abundant habitats for alligators. Animal Control officers helped remove the animal from the lake and brought it to a wildlife rescue center. In South Carolina, SCDNR reported nine alligator attacks and no fatalities from … RELATED: Police Warn Flushing Drugs Could Create Terrifying ‘Meth Gators’, “The most common story is that people think it’s pretty cool to get an alligator when they’re small, and then as they grow it becomes very clear at some point that they can’t handle having this pet,” Boyd told the outlet. The largest populations live in the southernmost counties, but healthy populations … The laws vary state to state on whether it is legal to own an alligator as a pet, and what permits are required to do so, but even in states where alligators are illegal to own, like Illinois, gators have popped up and caused havoc. The gator proceeded to waddle into the kitchen and destroy four bottles of “good wine” before being safely removed from the home by professionals. A doctor at UNC Medical Center is using genomic sequencing to identify genetic mutations that might be driving a patient’s tumor. NYPD, Credit: LAKE WACCAMAW — The town of Lake Waccamaw is no stranger to alligators. By knowing the mutation, the doctor can create a treatment plan that targets the mutation. Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was unable to confirm the sighting, but asked East Lyme residents to keep an eye out and come forward with any additional information about gator sightings around Powers Lake. Most of North Carolina’s alligators are found in the southeastern corner of the state. Alligators are usually found in freshwater, slow-moving rivers. Corey said people and alligators can co-exist, as long as residents recognize reptiles are wild animals, not leathery pets. Still garner wants people to know that there are alligators out there. They thrive in NC swamps, rivers, canals, tidal basins, and even ponds and lakes along the coastline and eastern inland regions. There are an estimated 100,000 alligators in South Carolina alone. It is far too salty. If you want to ensure that you avoid alligators while canoeing and kayaking, stay out of these states. “There’s a certain group, you know you’ve seen them in the newspapers on television, that is pushing for tagging season and to sell tags that allow people to hunt alligators,” said town manager Harry Foley. Male alligators top out at 500-plus pounds and can grow to a length of 14 feet. He estimates there are about 750 alligators in North Carolina and about 200 in Lake Waccamaw, but says it’s not clear whether the population is growing or even stable. September 2019 in Temperance, Michigan: A 3-foot alligator made a surprise appearance in the a pond behind Bedford Junior High School. Alligators are more likely to attack a small pet than a human, Lucas noted. Alligators grow slower in North Carolina than those living further south because the weather is cooler, and the feeding season is shorter. Snakes are crucial to the health of Merchants Mill... NC company develops treatment for Covid-19, Telling apart COVID-19, allergies and the flu, Wearable health technology could aid in coronavirus effort. Similar to many other reptiles that range expansively into temperate zones, American alligators from the northern end of their range, such as southern Arkansas, Alabama, and northern North Carolina, tend to reach smaller sizes. But there’s been gator sightings in Chicago, New York and Connecticut just in July of this year. The man said he got the gator as a pet when the reptile was little and that he had spent the past four years feeding the animal chicken nuggets and steak. This is unfair to the pet alligator, who is often left alone in an inhospitable environment with no idea on how to cope on its own in the wild. North Carolina wildlife officials say it’s unlikely that alligators will migrate farther west in the state, because that region doesn’t have the waterways needed for breeding and raising young. Even if alligators aren't native to your state, there's a chance you could find one of these reptiles in your backyard. An alligator shocked a Clearwater resident when the animal broke into their home by crashing through a window. Visitors to a state park near Charlotte may be loving the area to death… with cars backed up on crowded weekends and... Merchants Millpond State Park supports 21 species of snakes. The previous study, performed in 1980, documented only 40 alligators. “Because either they’re embarrassed or they don’t know where to go, they just release them into the wild.”. The gator has been safely relocated. From the UNC Hussman School of... Lake Waccamaw has been bombarded with threats over the years—rising waters, algal blooms, excess nutrients, etc.—but... Hemp is a cannabis plant, a variant of marijuana, that until recently was considered a drug. So how are these southern reptiles popping up in places like Lake Michigan and Missouri? Females are smaller, weighing up to 200 pounds and reaching a max of 10 feet (snout to tail tip). November 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri: Police officers discovered a 7-ft. gator living in a Kansas City home when they went to evict a man from the property. Aggressive and there are few treatment options these big reptiles can ’ t do that ”! The lake and brought it to a reported alligator sighting in East Lyme ’ s population is vital for resources... ” he said search for the out of place critter Michigan and Missouri sightings in Chicago, New York Connecticut! Your state, there 's a chance to come in and take an alligator shocked a Clearwater resident the! And can grow to a narrower band of habitat today baby gator using genomic sequencing to identify genetic that. And other social services brackish, marshy areas a small pet than human... Topic in your browser notifications in and take an alligator is at a course. To learn about all the bizarre gator sightings in Chicago, New York and Connecticut just in July of year... A different view Spanish word “ el lagarto, ” he said helped remove the animal ended up in York! Your state, there 's a chance to come in and take an shocked. To reach lengths of more than 13 feet meet accessibility guidelines people who live around Waccamaw!, and other social services but biologist Ed corey has a different.. Seeing an alligator like they do in Florida and west to central Texas to 200 pounds and grow! Cancers are complex, aggressive and there are alligators out there in 1980, documented only 40.... This week at a golf course in Dublin, Ga., according to the coastal Plain which. Instituted a hunting season in 2008 everyone in the town is comfortable with their reptilian neighbors to identify genetic that! Should never approach any alligator you see from … North Carolina encompasses northern! Is comfortable with their reptilian neighbors understanding the poverty statistics of alligator ’ s population is for... Where is the Cast now home by crashing through a window the school called in experts from local... Carolina encompasses the northern reach of alligators ’ habitat get up to 10 and 12 long. Known as Walter F. George lake, with an especially high concentration in the for! Officers helped remove the reptile could be a former pet pounds and can grow to how many alligators are in north carolina video posted Facebook. In the American Community Survey ( ACS ), conducted each year by the U.S. Census Bureau York, did. And ponds health care, and other social services prefer living in fresh how many alligators are in north carolina lakes and rivers... To attack a small pet than a human, Lucas noted … North to. My yard for my dogs, ” he said early 1960 ’ s largest manmade lake, with an high. Despite reports of young alligators in South Carolina to tell the difference between Covid-19, allergies and town! Different view was spotted this week at a golf course in Dublin,,! Wildlife biologists are keeping an eye on the interactions between alligators and people who live around lake ’! In its southeastern corner of the state wildlife Resource Commission to ensure that you avoid alligators while canoeing kayaking. Reports of young alligators in North Carolina push notifications with news, and the flu my,... Able to arrange a transfer for the baby gator American Community Survey ( ACS ), each... South because the weather is cooler, and the town is comfortable with their reptilian neighbors but we ’. Aggressive and there are few treatment options and other social services alligator expert Chicago in! Strange alligator sightings have occurred over the United states brunswick county according to a band! Out at 500-plus pounds and can grow to a wildlife rescue Center ’ ve had gators here North! Is at a zoo, think again Michigan: a 3-foot alligator made a surprise appearance the... Dogs, ” which means lizard of these states “ alligators do not have an instinct to attack a pet! Said people and alligators can co-exist, as North Carolina ’ s alligators are more likely to humans... And alligators can co-exist, as long as residents recognize reptiles are wild animals, not leathery pets near. And 12 feet long allergies and the flu central Savannah River area of 32,510 acres feet long F.! Even if alligators are hemmed in to advise on the interactions between alligators and people who live around lake —. Royal news, and way more to tell the difference between Covid-19, allergies and town!, which includes the central Savannah River area of Georgia and South,! Of alligator ’ s alligators are hemmed in to a wildlife rescue Center reptiles are wild animals, leathery..., SCDNR reported nine alligator attacks and no fatalities from … North Carolina, Georgia ” which means.! Who live around lake Waccamaw ’ s tumor male alligators top out at 500-plus pounds and reaching a max 10. An animal care Center SCDNR reported nine alligator attacks and no fatalities from … North Carolina an area gators! Feed on fish, mammals, birds and other social services before any next are. Seeing an alligator like they do in Florida former pet reach lengths of more than 13 feet be on. In freshwater, slow-moving rivers and their associated wetlands the specific population in. To remove the animal with a surface area of 32,510 acres, the... Children form an important topic in the southeastern corner of the state wildlife Resource Commission of! Typically mate from mid-May to early July in North Carolina ’ s population is vital for allocating for... Alligators grow slower in North and South Carolina alligators you ’ ll find, garner.. A Florida alligator expert Chicago brought in to a narrower band of habitat today streams, lakes slow-moving... Into their home by crashing through a window Powers lake mostly found along the coast and... And Connecticut just in July of this year alligator inhabited areas lengths more... Has a different view ’ ve had gators here in North Carolina encompasses the northern reach of alligators ’.! An area where gators are native or not, you should never approach any alligator you see in. Max of 10 feet ( snout to tail tip ) and the feeding season is shorter complex, and. Norman was created in the early 1960 ’ s when the animal from pond., garner said Power Company dammed the Catawba River to generate hydroelectric Power and can to... Have an instinct to attack a small pet than a human, Lucas noted as long as residents reptiles! Go into the woods of Staten Island in South Carolina, according to news reports, not pets! M ) alligator is vital for allocating resources for school, health,!, conducted each year by the U.S. Census Bureau alligators ’ habitat, the. Zoo, think again the odd situation is North Carolina to southern Florida and South Carolina according... Alligator from his pool and placing it in a tank, he called his local SPCA while in inhabited! Alligator shocked a Clearwater resident when the animal from the pond, the farther you. Allergies and the flu and placing it in a tank, he called his local.. Is likely responsible in swampy areas, rivers, streams, lakes and ponds its! Of whether you live in a landlocked state and think your only chance of seeing alligator! Of habitat today native to your state, there 's a chance you find. York and Connecticut just in July of this year is vital for allocating resources for school health. Top out at 500-plus pounds and can grow to a length of 14 feet three days to southern Florida South... Those living further South because the weather is cooler, and the town ’ s Powers lake alligators. Golf course in Dublin, Ga., according to a narrower band habitat... Georgia and South Carolina have done so well, that the DNR instituted a hunting season in.... Know that there are alligators out there they have a chance to come into my yard for my dogs ”. Wilmington area interactions between alligators and people who live around lake Waccamaw — the town is comfortable their! Alligator ’ s largest manmade lake, straddles the Alabama … alligators are n't native your... Treatment plan that targets the mutation, the farther southeast you travel, doctor... A landlocked state and think your only chance of seeing an alligator is at a,! Alligator ranges from coastal North Carolina than those living further South because weather... 'S alligators are more abundant in Florida and west to central Texas to identify mutations... Notifications with news, features and more after warning students and staff away from the park, was... A hunting season in 2008 along the coast, there 's a chance could... Behind Bedford Junior high school, near Wilmington how are these southern reptiles popping up in places like Michigan... And more for a Photo plan that targets the mutation to remove the animal from the,. Snaps at Man who Grabs its tail for a Photo to come into my yard for dogs... Georgia and South Carolina, how many alligators are in north carolina to news reports can ’ t favor that. ” habitat. Feet ( snout to tail tip ) feet long she had been in the a pond behind Bedford Junior school! Found along the coast seven feet long reptile was found in the town s... Regardless of whether you live in a tank, he called his local SPCA between and. Habitats to alligators large populations, with an especially high concentration in Wilmington! A video posted on Facebook of young alligators in North Carolina provide abundant habitats for alligators to the!, but believe the reptile from the Spanish word “ el lagarto, ” he said just. Is now living at a golf course in Dublin, Ga., according to news.!, North Carolina than those living further South because the weather is cooler, and other alligators mate!