Don't Be a Chicken Tender: How to Peacefully Coexist with Alligators

Aaron Palmieri from the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy shares his expertise on alligators, exploring their behaviors, habitat, and how to safely live alongside these prehistoric apex predators.• American alligators date back 8 million years in the fossil record, predating humans• Adult alligators may only eat 15-20 times per year, using sunlight and ambient temperature to power bodily functions• Alligators are opportunistic and ambush hunters that will eat nearly anything except humans• An estimated 350-400 alligators live on Palmetto Bluff property, with their population growing alongside lagoon development• Males average 11-14 feet with the largest confirmed alligator at Palmetto Bluff measuring 12 feet• South Carolina has approximately 100,000 alligators compared to Florida's 1.3 million and Louisiana's 2 million• Female alligators lay 30-50 eggs annually with only 2-14 hatchlings typically surviving to adulthood• Never feed alligators—it's illegal and conditions them to associate humans with food• Keep pets leashed near water and maintain at least a 10-foot distance from alligators• Alligators share a common ancestor with dinosaurs, making them more closely related to birds than lizardsJoin us for alligator talks at the Conservancy on April 16th and in August on the water, or email with questions about these fascinating creatures.