Growing Up as an American Alligator

Head of a juvenile American alligator in blue water

It’s Good to Be Back

After an extended absence, it’s so good to be back at the water’s edge and along the shore as we continue our series about the American Alligator. Today’s blog focuses on juveniles to learn more about their challenging lives growing up as apex predators!

It Takes Time to Become a Mother

Nearly all alligators become sexually mature by the time they reach approximately 7 feet in length although females can reach maturity at 6 feet. A female may require 10-15 years and a male 8-12 years to reach these lengths. Courtship begins in early April, and mating occurs in May or June. Females build a mound nest of soil, vegetation, or debris and deposit an average of 32 to 46 eggs in late June or early July. Incubation requires approximately 63-68 days, and hatching occurs from mid-August through early September.

A Word of Caution – Privacy Please

Be very wary of American alligators during mating and nesting season, and give them a wide berth when you encounter them in the wild. They are much more aggressive when mating, and the females are very protective of their nests and the babies once they hatch.

Challenging Beginnings

About 1/3 of alligator nests are destroyed by predators (mainly raccoons) or flooding. The average clutch size of an alligator nest is 38. For nests that survive predators and flooding, an estimated 24 live hatchlings will emerge. Only 10 alligator hatchlings will live to one year. Of these yearlings, 8 will become subadults (reach 4 feet in length). The number of subadults that reach maturity (6 feet in length) is approximately 5. These estimates are for a growing alligator population. As a population matures (and has a higher percentage of large alligators), the survival rate would be expected to be lower, in part due to a higher rate of cannibalism.

Eggs: American Alligator eggs are susceptible to drowning, being crushed by the female, predation, and other less common calamities. Raccoons are the primary predator, although hogs, otters, and bears have been reported to depredate nests.

Juveniles: Small alligators are eaten by a variety of predators including raccoons, otters, wading birds, and fish; however, larger alligators may be their most significant predator.

Cute as a Button

But no matter the challenges and the fierceness of the American Alligator, this photographer still thinks baby animals of any species (except snakes) are darn cute!