We had the opportunity to sit down with our scaly friend and discuss the ins and outs of Alligator Alley – after all, he would know. We even got to snap a few photos of his different costumes. Let’s see what he had to say! 

Q: Howdy, Pickles! Thanks for taking the time to talk with us today. How have things been going at the swamp?

A: Thanks for having me. It’s been an adventure around here. From hurricane season to harvesting season and kid’s back in school, it’s been a real wild time. I’m just enjoying these last few weeks of sunshine before the cold weather hits.

Q: How does a handsome guy like yourself get along with the other big personalities here at the swamp?

A: Well, you know, not everyone can be as good looking as me – I mean, have you seen my green nail polish? But, we get along as best we can. We stay out of each other’s ways and try not to fight over the same mate. 

Q: So, I have to ask: what is with the green nail polish? 

A: Growing up around all these alligators, I had to find a way to stand out from the crowd. Also, green tends to complement my skin tone.

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

A: Great question! I’d have to say my Easter Bunny costume or my cowboy hat.

Q: Where does the name “Pickles” come from?

A: 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 can’t get enough! Pickles and chow together make for the most delicious combo.

Q: Lastly, what’s your favorite part of Alligator Alley?

A: I like to swim around the swamp and make friends. I’ve never met a stranger! 

Q: Well, Pickles I want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk with us today! Happy swimming!

A: The pleasure has been all mine. See you around the swamp!

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. Be sure to stop by and spot Pickles munching on his favorite snack!

Alligators mate from mid-April through the end of May. A female alligator will typically lay 35 eggs that will incubate in the nest for up to 65 days. Nests are often located along banks of ponds or marshes and are ten feet in diameter and up to three feet high. Mama gators protect their nests using vegetation such as mud, plants, sticks and grass. 

During the month of August, if we have hatchlings on the farm, our staff assists the mother gator in the harvesting process by retrieving eggs from her nest and placing them in an incubator. Many hatchlings in the wild do not survive due to predators and natural disasters, so here at the farm, incubation protects the eggs and helps them grow and remain healthy.

Once the eggs begin to hatch, hatchlings use their egg tooth, a special tooth baby alligators develop, to break free from their shells. The mama alligators watch and protect their young until they are ready to take on the world on their own. This typically takes about a year and then the baby alligators will join a “pod” or group of baby alligators. Pods stay together, protecting one another from predators. Once our alligators reach four feet in length and transition into adulthood, they are considered safe in the wild or at the farm, except maybe to other, larger alligators. 

Now you know all there is to know about harvesting season at Alligator Alley. Stop by and visit all your alligator friends and be sure to hold them and snap a picture or two! 

Turtles 

Freshwater turtles love spending most of their time hanging out in lakes and ponds or even sunbathing on rocks and logs. Their webbed feet help them smoothly skate through the water. The majority of turtles prefer warm weather, and they tend to hibernate underground during colder seasons. 

Tortoises 

Unlike turtles, you will likely find tortoises on land. Their stumpy, solid feet make walking a breeze! Like turtles most tortoises are omnivores, eating plants, fish, snails and insects. Tortoises inhabit hot, dry climates, but when they want to escape the heat they bury themselves in the mud. Pay a visit to Godfather, one of our most popular tortoises!

Snake

Have you seen something slithering around? It’s probably one of our snakes! Banana is a Burmese Python, one of the world’s largest snakes. Because of poor eyesight, Burmese use heat sensors and chemical receptors to catch their prey. These carnivorous snakes can swallow food five times larger than their head!

Bullfrogs

Bullfrogs get their name from the sound they make. People attribute the sound to the “mooing” of a cow, which is where the “bull” originates. These carnivorous amphibians can live for seven to nine years and weigh just over one pound. Similar to turtles, bullfrogs favor warm weather and hibernate in the mud during colder seasons.

Pigs

At Alligator Alley, you will see our domestic pigs roaming around or playing in the mud. Unlike the feral hogs we feed to our alligators, our domestic pigs are happy members of the farm family.  

Longhorn Cattle

Did you know we have longhorn cattle on the farm? One of our oldest longhorns is named Hootie. They can be spotted from the parking lot, so keep an eye out for them next time you visit Alligator Alley!

Alligators

Last, but certainly not least, our infamous alligators! These carnivorous creatures have a lifespan of 35 to 50 years, and males on average weigh 600 pounds. However, Alligator Alley’s very own Captain Crunch weighs over 800 pounds. Males typically grow between 10 to 15 feet long, half of that being their tail. Because alligators tend to be clumsy on land, they enjoy hanging out in rivers, lakes, swamps and marshes. With webbed feet and a powerful tail, alligators glide through the water with ease. 

 Now you’re all caught up on our farm friends. Check out the details on pricing and hours before your next visit. We can’t wait to see you at Alligator Alley! 

 

Our name may be Alligator Alley, but our land serves as home to a diverse population of creatures. From bullfrogs to fox squirrels, we’re not your typical alligator farm. For the first time on our blog, we are shining the spotlight on some of our favorite farm friends: Hank and Moonpie! On the surface, the two may seem to be just regular old pigs. However, there’s a lot more to them than you may think!

Hank is much older than Moonpie, and he has been on the farm for over 13 years. He was born on New Year’s Day 2004. Originally, Hank came to Alligator Alley with the goal of producing offspring with his wife, Pepper. Sadly, however, Pepper passed away a few years ago, and Hank is now past his breeding years. In his old age, he loves to spend tons of time at the food trough and napping his days away! Retired life suits him very well.

Moonpie is one of the newer additions to Alligator Alley. She has only been on the farm for about three years, and became the new girl in town after Pepper passed away. She keeps old Hank company and keeps him feeling young again!

Both weighing in at a trim 500 pounds, the easiest way to tell the two apart is by their coloring. Hank is has a black body with a white belt, while Moonpie is all white. This color difference exists because they are two different types of pigs. Hank is a Hampshire pig, the earliest hogs brought to America. They were first imported around 1825 from Hampshire County in England, and they are known for their proficiency and vigor.

Moonpie is a Yorkshire pig, a breed that came to America not too long after the Hampshire in 1830. They originated in Ohio, but can now be found all over the United States. Yorkshires are known for being very productive and performance oriented, yet durable.

Hank and Moonpie are two of our favorite animals on the farm. Not only are they fun to visit, but they also add a sense of a true, all-around farm feel to Alligator Alley! Besides, what’s a farm without pigs, chickens and alligators?

If you want to come meet this month’s featured farm animals for yourself, come visit us today!