The Top 5 Most Alligator-Infested Rivers In Alabama

The South is known for its marshes and swamp land. There are national parks all along the Southern United States that are dedicated to preserving these areas. Biodiversity is abundant and should be protected. Among the animals that make those swamplands home are alligators. Alligators are large reptiles and the two most common species that exist on this planet are the Chinese alligator and the American alligator. Alligators live in all types of bodies of water including rivers, swamps, streams, ponds, and lakes.

When it comes to Alabama, these dangerous creatures roam around the swamps, lakes, and even rivers, though mainly in the southern part of the state. Let’s take a look at the top five alligator-infested rivers in Alabama.

Conecuh/Escambia River

It is not too common to see a river have two names, but in this case, the Conecuh River does. The upper portion of the river is known as the Conecuh and the lower portion of the river is called the Escambia River. The river passes from Alabama through Florida and into the Gulf of Mexico. A total of 258 miles long, the Conecuh/Escambia River comes alive near the city of Union Springs, AL. For 198 miles, it flows in a southwestern direction toward Florida. Around Escambia Creek, the river changes names and finally flows through Florida and south into Escambia Bay.

Alligators are rampant in the river, particularly in the Escambia River as it flows south to Florida, particularly near the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. There have been many news reports of alligator sightings in the river.

Perdido River

Compared to many of its counterparts in the South, the Perdido River is a tiny river at only 65.4 miles long. It runs through the states of Alabama and Florida and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The river, which means “lost” in Spanish, has historically been a boundary line for the US, France, Spain, and Great Britain. Today, the river also is a boundary line between Alabama and Florida. Because it passes through swamp lands, the river is rampant with alligators with many sightings throughout the years.

Alabama River

Running for 318 miles, the Alabama River is one of the major rivers in the state. The river came to be because of the coming together of the Tallapoosa and the Coosa Rivers. It then flows southward until it unites with the Tombigbee River. The river is influential because it runs through an agricultural and timber-rich region that is prime for the economy of the state. The Alabama River has many alligators, particularly in the more southern part of the river where it’s close to the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta.

Sepulga River

Because alligators love the swampy and wetland type of bodies of water, they tend to favor the rivers near the southern part of the state. That’s because they are near the swamplands of the state. One such river located here is the Sepulga River, which is a 61.5-mile-long river that runs in Alabama. The river discharges into the Conecuh River by the Conecuh National Forest.

Yellow River

Alligators are common in the Yellow River, which has historically been called the Chester River or the Middle River. It runs through the states of Alabama and Florida for 118 miles. It then flows into Blackwater Bay, which is an arm of Pensacola Bay. Many alligator sightings have been recalled on the river because of its proximity to the southern swamp lands in the state.

Conclusion

And there you have it, these are the five most alligator-infested rivers in Alabama. Facing extinction back in the 1960s, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service put them on the endangered species list in 1967. Since then, alligators have multiplied substantially. They were taken off the list 20 years later. Today, there are 70,000 alligators in the entire state of Alabama alone, according to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The alligators in Alabama mainly live in the southern part of the state. But are known (although seldom) to roam around in rivers in the northern part, too. If you happen to run into these ferocious creatures on a river trek, don’t be scared, but you shouldn’t try to pet them.