Alligator Habitat

American alligators are found in freshwater wetlands such as swamps, marshes, rivers, lakes, sloughs, and on certain occasion some smaller lakes. They greatly prefer calm water so they can swim and breath more efficiently. When the water is calm, an alligator can sit motionless at the top of the water only putting their nose out of the water. If the water were rough or moving, it would be more difficult to sit still and wait for prey. They can live in water with certain levels of salinity however they can only stay in those areas for a short period of time as they have difficulty expelling the excess salt.

American alligators will make dens and burrows in the mud. They use their head, tail, and feet to create a place they can find shelter and hibernate during cold months. In the event that their home body of water dries up, alligators will relocate either by swimming or walking to a new water source and even take up refuge in a backyard swimming pool.

Popularity: 1%