American Alligator

Join us here for our Reptiles Rule presentation every Friday at 12:30pm.

Young American alligators feed on small fish, frogs, and invertebrates. They have a specialized system of sensory pits on their jaws that can detect subtle movements in the water, helping them to locate prey.

Female alligators are dedicated mothers and provide protection and care to their hatchlings. They often build nests out of vegetation and mud in sunny locations, where the decomposing material generates heat to incubate the eggs. After hatching, the mother alligator will carry her hatchlings to nearby water bodies, guarding them from potential predators.

These alligators currently on exhibit have been obtained temporarily from another facility.

Learn more from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/alligator/

To learn about symbolically adopting one of these animals, visit our Adopt an Animal page! https://www.buschwildlife.org/adoptananimal