This Is the Most Fearsome Animal in Alabama- Here Is Why

When we think of animals in Alabama, it is easy to think of deer. After all, Alabama has one of the highest populations of deer in the United States, with 1.75 million. However, we wouldn’t categorize deer as an animal we would fear. 

But there are many fearful animals in Alabama, such as the brown recluse spider, black widow, Eastern diamondback rattlesnake, Southern unstriped scorpion, and Blacktip shark. However, one of the most fearsome animals in Alabama is the alligator. Let’s jump right into the murky swamp of facts and discover why. 

Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) Facts

There are two species of alligator: the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) and the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). As you might have guessed, the American alligator is the only alligator found in Alabama.

The American alligator is a giant reptile that weighs anywhere from 400-800 pounds (180-360 kilograms). These reptiles can reach anywhere from 8-15 feet long, although there have been reports of more giant gators than this. We will get into that later. 

We might assume that a large animal like this would have a voracious appetite that eats all the time. However, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the American alligator can go an entire week without eating. Though these animals are more significant than we are as humans, they don’t require the food consumption that we do daily. 

Alligators are carnivores, which means they eat meat. They will prey on animals such as fish, snakes, turtles, small mammals, and birds. As large predatorial animals, just a few will prey on them, such as leopards, panthers, and sometimes giant snakes. However, their most prominent hunter is humans.

Now that we’ve learned a little about the American alligators, it’s a good foundation for them. Let’s dive into how many there are in Alabama and how feared they are in this state. 

How Many Alligators Live in Alabama?

The American alligator has an ample population that spans across Northern America. Their population is ever-increasing and stands currently at four million. And Alabama is number six on the list of the highest population of alligators in their state. 

1. Louisiana – 2 million
2. Florida – 1.3 million
3. Texas – 500,000
4. Georgia – 250,000
5. South Carolina – 100,000
6. Alabama – 70,000

And yes, while 70,000 seems like an incredible number, it is nothing compared to that of Louisiana and Florida. The alligator is not as frequent in Alabama as in other states, so it is easy for Alabama residents to fear this unexpected animal. 

Alligators like to stay close to water in swamplands and marshes. However, as we know from many news stories, alligators don’t always stay put. For example, we hear stories almost daily of alligators being spotted in Louisiana or Florida just walking across the street, in someone’s backyard, or in a lake where families swim.

The Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resource’s Marianne Gauldin states, “Alligators can be found literally miles from water as they’re seeking resources whether that’s resource is a food source, a waterway where they have less competition and more food and mates as well.”

And for the residents of Alabama, it is easy to be fearful of an animal that’s not very common. Now, let’s focus on how big Alabama gators can be.

What is the Biggest Alligator Ever Caught in Alabama?

As you may assume, there are always exceptions to the rules regarding the size of animals. As researchers, scientists, and animal enthusiasts, we do our best to know all aspects of the animals we study. However, we always leave ourselves room to be pleasantly surprised by a new animal breaking the record in size.

The largest alligator caught in Alabama was 15 feet and nine inches long. And this whopper weighed an impressive 1,000+ pounds. It is said it took five people to wrangle this beast up. With this many people needed to subdue one animal, it brings to question how fatal is an alligator bite.

How Fatal Is An Alligator Bite?

When we see reptiles like this, we think of the movies we frequently see on T.V. of alligators and bears chasing people down and killing them. However, the reality is that animals, in their very nature, are not like that. 

Now, that’s not to say they can never chase people down. Because there are always exceptions, such as animals who feel threatened or if they sense their young ones are in danger. Should a gator hunt you down for one of these reasons, the National Institute of Health states, “Injuries from encounters with alligators may range from minor scratches and punctures to amputations and death.”

But ultimately, alligators have natural fear and don’t seek to chase and harm humans. Most attacks on humans by alligators are non-fatal. They may bite or attack but will usually quickly go away. Where it gets severe or fatal is when a human is repeatedly bit more than once.

And while alligators do have 80 teeth, their real power lies in their jaws. Alligators have a bite force of approximately 2,000 PSI (pounds per square inch.) To put this into perspective, a lion has a bite force of 650 PSI. So, you can put your imagination to good use to see how much damage an alligator bite could do to a human.

We might not be scared of many animals that we see in the wild. However, we can’t add alligators to this list. If you see a gator in Alabama, do yourself a favor by staying clear of this reptile.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © © mark higgins/iStock via Getty Images