Alligators in Greenville County: Is It Safe to Swim?

The American alligator should perhaps be on your mind when you are jumping in bodies of water in the south. They inhabit coastal North Carolina and as far west as Texas, residing in freshwater (they don’t possess the organs to process salt.) South Carolina has plenty of freshwater, high humidity, and warm winter temperatures to make it an alligator’s paradise.

Alligators in South Carolina make use of the state’s marshlands and lakes. However, Greenville, South Carolina, is too far inland to support alligators. It gets too cold during the winter months for gators to survive for long periods.

In South Carolina, Alligators mainly nest in ACE Basin. This area is one of the largest wetland ecosystems on the Atlantic coast, located between Hilton Head Island and Charleston. The area is a high-quality alligator habitat as a result of wetland alteration during the rice-growing era.

Though Greenville isn’t home to alligators, they were spotted there once or twice. There have been numerous sightings and catchings, including a baby gator in October 2022 and a monster alligator in September 2016. However, these are unusual occurrences.

With the state’s many lakes drawing hundreds of tourists, those visiting Greenville can jump in with ease. However, if you want to take precautions you can follow these rules to make swimming even safer:

1. Don’t Wear Jewelry

Remember to take all your jewelry off before getting to your swimming destination. You obviously don’t want to lose it in the water, but also, jewelry glistens in the sun. Fish scales also glisten and gleam, and alligators can’t tell the difference between you and a fish. This tip is great for water and land, as you don’t want to attract the attention of any large animal.

2. Show Them an Exit Path

If you encounter an alligator, it will be hard to remember that they are equally as scared of you as you are of it. But try to remain calm. You don’t want to make any sudden movements; simply back away slowly. You don’t want to corner alligators because if they feel threatened, their fight instinct will kick in and they will attack. It is rare for alligators to chase people on land. However, they can run very fast, up to 35 mph, for short distances.

3. Just Leave Them Be!

If you see a log or vegetation area, just leave them be! Alligators like to create nests and hang out in vegetation near the shore. So, even if you are swimming in safe waters, you should avoid vegetation along the shorelines. Because alligators can sometimes look like floating logs, if you see what looks to be a log, don’t try to inspect it. You might discover it has scales!

Alligator attacks are rare, and in Greenville, South Carolina, they are next to nonexistent. These large reptiles aren’t native to the area and rarely live in the town’s waters. So, enjoy the beautiful weather, put on sunblock, and take a cool dip!

What Months are Alligators the Most Aggressive?

There are certain months of the year when alligators get more aggressive, and this behavior is shared by many wild animal species. Mating season can bring out the worst in wild creatures, as males often square off in competition to get the girl, and in turn, knock her up!

In areas like Florida, alligator mating season lasts from April to June. During this time, alligators become more defensive and guarded. Male gators become territorial, and alpha males will engage in combat with other males to drive them away, often resulting in wounds.

Alligators become more noisy during these months, making mating calls that sound like guttural growls to let males and females know of their presence. Males will also hit the water with their heads or tails, a behavior dubbed a “water dance.” Both sexes leave scent trails to attract the opposite sex.

Once female gators are impregnated and lay eggs, they are particularly dangerous, being watchful over their nests. They are also fiercely protective of their young. The worst thing a human can do is try to provoke an alligator, either by harassing it or messing with its babies. Below is a video where a young man captured a baby alligator, only to be charged by its mother. It proves the point that alligators are dangerous animals, and caution should always be taken in their vicinity.

Watch the Incredible Video Below!