It’s alligator mating season, and your heart may just skip a beat! As the air heats up and the days grow longer, love is in the air for these scaly creatures. So get ready for a wild ride filled with love, danger and maybe even a bit of reptilian romance. When it comes to alligator mating season, all you need is love!

Courtship begins in mid-April and lasts through the end of May. Male alligators make a low bellowing sound and slap the water to draw a female’s attention, warning other males to stay away. Males who are ready to mate will become vicious fighters during mating season as they compete for available females. They may even come away with missing legs or blinded eyes.

Alligators will also use scent to attract mates, emitting a pheromonal musk. Alligators start the mating process by engaging in courtship behaviors once they have found a potential mate. They might push one another underwater or rub and press each other’s snouts and bodies, demonstrating their power and establishing their superiority to other suitors.

Females may mate several times during the season and typically lay 35 eggs, although the clutch may be anywhere from 20 to 50 eggs. After covering them in her nest made of soil, vegetation or debris, she will guard them, keeping an eye on the eggs for up to nine or 10 weeks.

After about 65 days, the baby alligators will hatch in mid-August or early September. The mother alligator stays with her young for up to two years after they hatch, protecting them from predators and teaching them how to hunt and survive in the wild.

So there you have it, folks! Alligator mating season is an exciting and fascinating time of year for these scaly creatures.

If you’re feeling daring and want to experience the magic of alligator courtship up close and personal, head over to Alligator Alley from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check out our website for more information, you might even witness the beginning of a brand-new alligator family!

My daily routine is pretty simple, as you might expect. It mainly consists of eating, sleeping and soaking up the sun. But, I have to admit I can get a little rowdy at times. So, get ready to see what my life at Alligator Alley looks like.

Rise and shine

At 7 a.m. sharp, the sun rises and wakes me up to start my day of sunbathing and stretching out my beautiful scales. This is my favorite part of the day, and I make sure to savor every moment.

Lunch is served

By 11 a.m., my stomach is growling and it’s time for lunch. I’m not a big fan of eating in front of an audience, but some of my fellow alligators do a live show three times a day at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. I prefer to have my meals in peace, away from the crowds. Once I’ve had my fill, I’m ready to lounge in the sun and enjoy the rest of my day.

Dinner and dress-up

I love any excuse to get dressed-up and paint my nails. Don’t I look great? As the day winds down, it’s time for dinner with my other alligator pals.

Good day and good night

As the sun sets, I take my leave and slither into the water, where I’ll rest and get ready for another day of eating, sunbathing and enjoying life as an alligator at Alligator Alley. Thank you for joining me today, but now it’s my bedtime. Good night!

Want to see what our alligators are up to? Visit us at Alligator Alley every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and check out our website for more information.

Myth 1: Running away in a zigzag pattern is the best way to escape an alligator.

A more practical way to escape an aggressive alligator is to run away in a straight line as fast as you can. While gators can move quickly on land, they can only do so in short bursts before they tire out.

Myth 2: Alligators are more afraid of us than we think.

True. Alligators are naturally afraid of humans. When encountering a human in the wild, an alligator is more likely to flee than become aggressive. This does not necessarily mean that humans don’t need to be cautious around alligators, but they do not need to live in fear of them. It’s wise to observe alligators from afar, just like during the live feedings at Alligator Alley.

Myth 3: Alligators have great eyesight.

True. It’s a common belief that alligators have bad eyesight due to the shape of their head and position of their eyes. However, because alligators’ eyes are positioned on either side of their head, they actually have a wider view and can spy on prey from afar.

Their eyes are also made to see in extreme low-light conditions. Inside their eye beneath the photoreceptor cells, is a layer called the tapetum lucidum. The layer allows their retina to reflect light back into the cells, increasing the amount of light that the gator can detect.

Myth 4: Alligators can’t climb well.

False. Due to their strong muscles, sharp claws and powerful tails, alligators are actually quite agile climbers. Using their tail, which is half of their body length, alligators can push themselves over a fence or wall if needed. After all, they are distant relatives of lizards who are excellent climbers.

And there you have it – you can’t always believe everything you hear! To see these amazing creatures in action, make a visit to Alligator Alley any day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit our website for details on hours and pricing.

Alligators are frequently misunderstood animals and protecting alligators is more than just about preserving biodiversity. Alligators help us to maintain a critical balance in our environment and freshwater ecosystems. The American alligator was on the verge of extinction until the Endangered Species Act of 1966 was passed to protect alligators from poaching. Our mission is to educate and inform the public about these fascinating creatures in a safe and unique way, while also allowing visitors to observe the animals in their natural habitats.

When visiting Alligator Alley, you’ll begin with a guided adventure through our swamp where you’ll see over 600 alligators along with snakes, tortoises and lizards. Not only will you witness these animals in their natural habitats, but our interactive exhibits allow you to hold, feed and interact with various species of reptiles. We created the farm to be an immersive experience that closely mimics these animals’ natural environments.

Come be a part of all the action at Alligator Alley every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can support other organizations and their conservation efforts by visiting The International Reptile Conservation Foundation to conserve reptiles and amphibians and their habitats. As always, we look forward to seeing you on your next adventure at Alligator Alley. Visit gatoralleyfarm.com/about/hours-pricing/ for details on hours and pricing.

Our alligators are looking forward to the warmer weather when the sun is high in the sky and the water begins to warm up again. During the colder months, our gators like to stay warm by burying deep below the water’s surface, dozing on and off all day and occasionally snacking on a savory meal. Because alligators brumate in the winter, they sleep more and eat very little, so they are ready to feast when the temperatures rise again. Top priority of 2023: bring on the live feedings!

Tortoises, on the other hand, stay warm and cozy inside to maintain their core body temperature. Our farm-famous tortoise, Godfather, isn’t a fan of the cold and needs plenty of bright light to mimic summertime conditions. His top priority of 2023 is finding the largest, most comfortable rock to bask on in the sun during the warmer months.

What are you looking forward to in 2023? We hope whatever your priorities are for the New Year, they include a trip to Alligator Alley to visit over 600 alligators as well as snakes, tortoises and more! View our hours and pricing page to plan your next visit to the farm.

Most of our friends stay at the swamp because let’s be honest – who wouldn’t want to? This just means we get extra quality time with them. From Christmas carols and movies to sleeping and more sleeping, our alligators sure do have a great time around the holidays. 

While most alligators don’t eat much during the winter months, sometimes they can’t resist a Christmas cookie or some eggnog (Pickles especially can get a little rowdy)! At Alligator Alley, we cherish the slower months to spend quality time with our alligators before things really pick up again in the spring. 

The highlight of the holiday season is when Pickles dresses up in his Santa Claus costume and gives gifts to all his scaly friends. Last year, he got everyone their very own Santa hat. We are looking forward to what he’ll come up with this year!

We hope everyone has a happy holidays! In case you don’t already know, we will be closed from November 28 to December 22. We will reopen December 22 and 23 but are closed December 24 and 25. We will open again December 26 – 30 and will close at 2 p.m. on December 31. For more information, view our winter hours and visit our Instagram and Facebook pages.  

Pickles is a 6-year-old alligator weighing in at about 80 pounds and measuring 5 feet long. But don’t think for a second that he’s not one to fight – this alligator talks the talk and walks the walk. For now, he remains the most popular of the alligators because of his vibrant style choices and friendly attitude (most of the time).

Now, it’s time for you to really get to know the real Pickles.

Q: Pickles, what’s the deal with the green nail polish? Where does your distinctive style come from?

A: Growing up around all these alligators, I had to find a way to stand out in the crowd! Also, green is a lucky color and complements my skin tone.

Q: What’s your favorite outfit you’ve strutted around been over the past years?

A: Hmm…I’d have to say my Santa Claus costume or maybe my sweet tux!

Q: What’s your favorite part of Alligator Alley?

A: I like to swim around and make friends! We even play games of Marco Polo in the swamp.

Q: How did you earn the name “Pickles”?

A: Because I LOVE to eat Pickles! When I was just a baby, I stole a cheeseburger and ate the pickles off of it. Ever since, I’ve been hooked! Pickles and chow together make for the most delicious combo.

Pickles had to leave our interview for an important photo opportunity in his Halloween costume, but he will answer any fan mail you might have. Just send him or any of the other alligators your questions at info@gatoralleyfarm.com and we’ll add you to our newsletter to receive updates on what’s happening around the farm! By the way, Pickles has his own Facebook page– check him out!

We are currently open every day except Wednesdays, but our hours are changing for the holidays. Be sure to stop by and spot Pickles munching on his favorite snack!