Living Safely With Alligators
As the weather warms each year, it becomes more common to see alligators basking in the sun on the banks of ponds in our community, or even crossing roads and trail to other locations. They may look peaceful and docile, but don’t be fooled! The warmer temperatures are actually helping these reptiles generate the body heat they need to be active and to begin the mating season. Consider the following:
Alligators are ectothermic: They depend on an outside source for their body heat. This is why they start to appear more often, and become more active, when the temperatures start to rise in the spring.
Alligators begin courting in the Lowcountry around April in preparation for the mating season, which takes place in late May and early June. They may become more aggressive in their actions during this time.
While they are basking, adult alligators are also on the lookout for prey, including fish, mammals, turtles, birds and even other alligators. In populated areas, it is not unheard of for them to interpret dogs and pets in their habitat as prey.
While it can be exciting to see these large reptiles in person, it’s extremely important to keep the following in mind:
Never approach an alligator. Maintain a distance of at least 60 feet if you encounter one in the community.
Always keep children and pets away from pond edges, even when no alligators appear to be present.
Alligators are naturally fearful of humans, but if they have been fed or harassed by humans, their fear can switch to aggression, increasing the likelihood of an attack. It is illegal to harass or feed an alligator in the state of South Carolina.
Alligator safety at Point Hope requires the participation and cooperation of all community members. Please remind your guests and neighbors to respect the alligators that make their home at Point Hope. If you encounter an alligator that is displaying aggressive or unusual behavior please contact the POA office. We will engage the services of an alligator specialist, who will determine whether or not the reptile in question should be removed.