Hilton Head’s alligator breeding season begins in May. Here are 4 things to know
Alligator mating season officially begins in May, but courting has already started.
Heard any deep bellows lately?
Alligator breeding takes place from May until early June, but Lowcountry alligators began their courtships in April. After the breeding months, a female will lay a clutch of 30 to 50 eggs, which will hatch after incubating for around two months in August or September.
The Lowcountry seems to have no shortage of alligators lurking in local lagoons, basking in the sun or even crossing roads from time-to-time.
Seeing an alligator can be a mesmerizing but alarming sight. Here are four things for both locals and tourists to remember at all times, especially during alligator breeding season.
Alligators are large
Although the growth rate of an alligator depends on many different variables, they can become quite large. Whether it takes three years or 16 years to accomplish their maximum size, alligators should never be underestimated. Female alligators can reach, or even exceed, a length of 10 feet and weigh up to 250 pounds. Male alligators can grow to more than 14 feet long and weigh up to 1,000 pounds in some cases, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Alligator reproduction
Alligator courtship begins in April, with breeding season continuing from May into early June. The female will lay a clutch of eggs into a mound made from surrounding foliage. This can occur from June through mid-July. After incubating for approximately two months, the eggs hatch and the hatchling alligators emerge roughly nine to 10 inches long. The female will stay with the hatchlings for up to one year until the start of the next breeding season, as reported by the SCDNR.
As the official mating season begins next week and courtship is already well underway, locals and tourists alike may recognize an alligator nearby from the sound of a male alligator’s “bellow.” Males bellow to attract and draw females to them. A male also bellows to mark its territory from other males and display dominance.
Female alligators will lay white-shelled eggs that are slightly longer and more pliable than a chicken’s egg. These are deposited into the mound and covered with flora for additional warmth. Warmth is crucial to the outcome of an egg’s incubation period.
Keep alligators at a distance
Although alligators may look disproportionate and therefore slow, these reptiles are, in fact, extremely powerful and fast. On land, they can move with a surprising burst of speed over short distances.
Alligators are most dangerous when they are at the edge of or in bodies of water, such as lagoons, ponds, or rivers. Locally, many people are often surprised to see alligators basking in the sun at the edge of a lagoon on a golf course, near sidewalks, alongside someone’s yard or on a nearby bank. Banks, usually at an incline, provide coverage for an alligator, making it easy for an unsuspecting person to accidentally walk up to one of these massive reptiles without their knowledge.
Children and pets should always be kept away from alligators. These reptiles do not recognize the difference between domestic pets and wild animals. When hungry, they will act upon their natural hunting instincts. This could lead to an attempt to feed on anything presenting itself nearby, even a leashed pet. Leashes are not a deterrent but can help prevent a dog from getting curiously too close.
Adult alligators are not the only things to avoid. Keeping away from alligator nests or young hatchlings is also important. Whether or not they can be seen, a mother alligator can be watching and will be aggressive if provoked or feels the hatchlings are threatened.
Alligator harassment
South Carolina may be on its way to increase the already hefty fines for alligator harassment. This follows a 2020 incident on Hilton Head Island, which incited outrage from surrounding communities over the treatment of an alligator while it was being removed from beside a mini-golf course.
The current law states that fines are $100 to $150; however, new legislation says violators of those who feed, entice or bother alligators, “except as is permitted under state and federal law,” will be found guilty of a misdemeanor. They will be fined anywhere from $500 up to $1,000, jailed for up to 30 days, or both.
“Alligators are federally classified as “threatened due to similarity of appearance” to other endangered crocodilians,” according to SCDNR. “The classification provides federal protection for alligators but allows state-approved programs for management and control.”
South Carolina has its own set of rules specific for alligator management.
Why can’t an alligator be fed?
Feeding an alligator is illegal and can cause a lot more problems than just dependency. Feeding an alligator forms an association between the reptile and people. The alligator will then come to associate humans as a source of food. This can make them more likely to approach people, seek them out and possibly attack.
If an alligator is causing any problems around a home or other location, contact the local SCDNR office. Alligator complaint numbers per county can be found at https://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/gatorc.html#:~:text=If%20an%20alligator%20is%20causing,you%20have%20a%20nuisance%20alligator.
For Beaufort county, the phone number is (803) 625-3569.
This story was originally published April 26, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
