The range of any large animal almost always corresponds to the movements of the last grad student to study it.

Here’s a comment on alligator range from Dr. Adam Britton probably one of the world’s foremost authorities on crocodilians:

“Bear in mind that it’s impossible to draw an outer edge to the distribution of alligators, or any other crocodilian species. It’s constantly changing, and it’s hard to define when a species is native to an area, or simply a temporary visitor. Alligators are long-lived animals, and they can move some distance outside their normal breeding range and still survive. This gives people the impression that they’re extending their natural range, when in fact they’re better described as “vagrants” in some places.

Alligator populations are healthy and increasing, which naturally leads excess individuals to explore new areas - even if they’re far from ideal. That doesn’t necessarily extend their range, because many areas that hold visiting animals simply aren’t good enough to support a population. This is typical of many species, where individuals can be kicked out of prime habitat by more dominant animals, and such animals try move around searching for new areas.”

Actually American alligators tolerate cooler climes quite well. Some of these sightings in “fringe” range areas may simply be the gators spreading back out to old previously occupied range. Kind of like what mountain lions are doing.

Glad to see a “common” animal in an “out-of-the-way” place.

Great post, as usual, Loren.

Now I live in Central North Alabama, and Dekalb county is quite a bit higher in elevation. But we have an army base here, Redstone Arsenal. It is a missile test range, and one of the ranges has a 12 foot Alligator living on it. Pictures make the post paper from time to time. Behind the post is Wheeler Wildlife Refugee. I’ve never seen anything confirmed, but the story in these parts is that Alligators were released there in an attempt to control the beaver population. The belief was they wouldn’t survive the winter. That was 20 some odd years ago, and people still see gators in the area. No doubt the monster on the test range is one of those released way back when.

Oh, and when the gator is sunning itself on the banks of the range, they don’t fire.

So at least in parts of North Alabama, Gators do live, apparently quite well.