Gator Guide: A unique history of North Alabama alligators

As the weather warms up, Huntsvillians might see more of certain unexpected reptilian residents: alligators. Over the years, citizens in the area have captured footage and photos of the reptiles, seemingly surprised at their presence; however, alligators are longtime residents of the region. 

The Rocket City is home to a (surprisingly) significant population of the creatures, so we’re here to give you the scoop on all things gator in Huntsville.

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North AL Gator History

Sightings have been numerous in recent years—including one in the middle of a Madison road from a few years back. However odd these sightings are, history proves that they’re not out of the ordinary.

An Associated Press report from 2019 said alligator reports in the Tennessee River date back as far as the late 1800s.

The North Alabama alligator population, specifically, received a significant boost in the 1970s when 50 alligators were released into the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. This area, spanning 35,000 acres between Huntsville and Decatur, is likely the original location for the now prolific North AL gator natives.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’s Chuck Sykes confirmed this history, 

“I get it. People who are new moving into the area who are not used to it, I can see where they could be a little panicked the first time they see an alligator. But that is a suitable habitat for alligators. There is not as much prime gator habitat as there is in the southern part of the state, but there is still quite a bit up north.”

_{Chuck Sykes, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division}

Why more gators?

A central reason for the recent influx of alligator (and alligator sign) sightings in the Huntsville area is the city’s rapid development. 

As the Huntsville population grows, so does its number of commercial and residential buildings. These spaces, increasing at an almost exponential rate, have caused a significant amount of construction that is encroaching on established alligator habitats. 

The Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) told us more about this phenomenon.

“They are building subdivisions literally in swamps. They’re bringing in truckloads of dirt and topsoil to build these pads to put the houses on. They’re building right up against the Redstone Arsenal fence. They’re building these well-manicured ponds these houses are going to go around. That means fish and turtles, food sources of alligators, so everything is there for an alligator. It’s perfect for them.”

_{Jud Easterwood, WFF’s Supervising Wildlife Biologist}

Easterwood also reports that people unfamiliar with Huntsville’s native alligators want the animals gone immediately.  However, WFF has a regulated protocol to determine if the animal’s behavior merits removal.

What should I do if I spot an alligator?

While the American alligator is not an endangered species, it is a federally protected species. Because of this status, WFF staff try to educate the public about how to live with alligators in Alabama, instead of demanding their eradication. 

“The protocol we use to determine if the animal is considered a nuisance is written in our state regulations. We do assess each reported nuisance situation, which is initially done over the phone. This initial phone interview allows for us to better understand the situational complaint and determine what the next steps should be.”

_{Jud Easterwood, WFF’s Supervising Wildlife Biologist}

You can learn more about Alabama’s laws surrounding alligators, as well as the aforementioned “nuisance policy” here. (It’s worth a peek; I was surprised at how extensive legislation around the animal was.)

Gator Aid: how to interact with AL alligators

Easterwood said to follow these alligator instructions:

• Leave gators alone
• Don’t harass them + never feed them
• Don’t throw fish scraps in the water
• Don’t let your pets swim in known gator areas + keep visiting pets on a leash
• If you know alligators are in the area, you don’t want to swim there
• Keep safety a top priority + always observe + photograph alligators from a distance

The alligators found in North Alabama do not grow nearly as large as those found in South Alabama or Florida, and, while there has been no documented instance of a human being attacked by an alligator in Alabama, that does not mean they are safe to approach. They are not. 

If an alligator poses a threat, residents should call Huntsville Police Department, which will coordinate removal with state wildlife officials.

However, alligators are also an important and valuable part of Alabama ecosystems. They are a top predator species that help balance animal populations, so next time you see one, remember it calls Huntsville home, too.

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