There Are Alligators in North Carolina. Where Is It Safe to Swim?

The southern coastal parts of the Southeast are home to American alligators. North Carolina happens to be the northernmost part of their range. They are abundant in the eastern inland and coastal wetlands, waterways, tidal basins, and even lakes and swamps of North Carolina. They will even occasionally go into the ocean. Does this make the waters throughout North Carolina dangerous for humans to enjoy? Can you find alligators in every body of water in the state? We’ve done the research and have brought you everything you need to know about these apex predators and where they roam in the Tar Heel State. 

How Big Are Alligators in North Carolina?

Male gators in North Carolina can weigh up to 500 pounds and measure up to 13 feet long. Females typically weigh up to 200 pounds and reach a length of less than nine feet. On their backs, tiny bones called osteoderms form a hard, ridged armor, making their leathery skin especially tough. The alligator, however, retains more flexibility because these flat, hard bones are not joined together the way they are in other creatures. Gators have short necks, stout legs, and large tails, which they use to move through the water. Their broad noses help them dig. Despite popular perception, these creatures do not harm their prey with their tails. 

Where Are Alligators Found in North Carolina?

The American alligator, which also resides in the southeastern United States, is the sole species of alligator present in North Carolina. This species of alligator inhabits the southeastern region of the state, near South Carolina’s Outer Banks.

They typically live in freshwater areas in southeastern and coastal North Carolina, with the largest populations found in Brunswick, New Hanover, Craven, Columbus, Onslow, and Pender counties. Additionally, alligators have even been discovered on beaches along the eastern coast of the state. In North Carolina, alligators are mostly found in the lower Cape Fear and Neuse River Valleys, but they also wander across a large portion of the Coastal Plain south of the 36th parallel. This area divides Albemarle Sound longitudinally. Occasionally, alligators are found deep in the Piedmont, such as the one released from a golf club near Kings Mountain. Alligators have been seen in the waters of Masonboro Island in North Carolina. 

Gator encounters in the ocean are uncommon, but not unheard of. Because they can swim well, alligators can move far offshore. It’s vital to keep your distance from any alligators you observe on the beach and not contact or bother them. Although alligators do not normally frequent cities like Raleigh, they may move into them if construction or similar activities forcibly remove them from their native environment.

How to Safely Swim in North Carolina Waters

While some bodies of water in North Carolina, especially in the southeastern and coastal regions, may contain alligators, and coastal waters can have jellyfish and sharks, most bodies of water in the state are generally safe for recreation.

Keep your splashing to a minimum. Splashing around signals the presence of something to eat to a gator in its eyes and mind. While humans could be mistaken for prey, alligators are usually looking for fish, swimming land animals, or birds that land on the water’s surface.

Before going for a swim, it’s a good idea to take off your jewelry. Jewelry will sparkle and gleam in the sun when worn in alligator-infested waterways. Alligators will interpret this as a reflection of a fish’s scales’ sheen and assume that it is time for food. If an alligator approaches, give it space to leave the water. Most alligators are afraid of people and prefer to avoid them, so allowing them room to escape is safest. Avoid approaching it to take a picture for social media, as the alligator may see your approach as hostile and try to attack.

How to Tell If an Alligator Is in Water

There are several ways to tell if an alligator is present in a reservoir, lagoon, or river. Check the shoreline first to determine if an alligator hangs out there. Alligators often sun themselves on the sand, leaving sliding marks where they re-enter the water. Secondly, search for them in weedy, muddy regions that are hidden from possible prey. Lastly, listen for a gator’s hissing, which signals that you are in its territory.