GULF SHORES, Ala. (WPMI) — Gulf Shores residents are on high alert as a nearly 10-foot-long alligator has moved into their neighborhood pond, just feet from homes.
Is there alligators in Orange Beach?
(OBA®) – On Sunday afternoon Derek Righter was leaving the Orange Beach Sportsplex with his two children when they came across a young alligator checking out new territories. Derek captured a video of the young gator as they approached in their car.
Are there sharks in the Gulf Shores?
In the video, you see the shark come very close to shore – and hear some shrieks of both delight and fear. It’s difficult to tell what kind of shark it is, but Outdoor Alabama says these are the most common off the coast of the state: Atlantic Sharpnose Shark. Blacktip Shark.
Can you swim in the water at Gulf Shores Alabama?
The City of Gulf Shores provides seasonal lifeguard services between March and September and encourages the public to swim at the protected public swimming areas (Gulf Place, West 6th Street, and Lagoon Pass) when lifeguards are present.
What parts of Alabama have alligators?
Distribution of the American alligator in Alabama is typically limited to the southern half of the state, mostly due to habitat and temperature requirements. Higher densities of alligators occur in wetland habitats such as coastal marshes, natural lakes, riverine wetlands and some reservoirs.
Are there alligators in Alabama beaches?
Alligators are common in Alabama. It is known to not be in the lakes or edges of a body of water at dusk or dawn. This area is home to many different types of marine life and while the threat is possible it is also relatively low. Also very importantly consider the risks the rip currents create in the Gulf.
Is there crocodiles in Alabama?
While Alabama is home to the infamous, at times terrifying, American alligator, crocodiles are completely absent. Both alligators and crocodiles are ‘crocodilians,’ thanks to their shared Order, Crocodilia. However, the largest crocodilians in the world, the Nile and saltwater crocodile, are not found in Alabama.
Is it safe to swim at Gulf Shores?
“There are absolutely safe places to swim, which are the front Gulf beaches. That’s where 90 percent of the people are,” DePaola said, referring to the beaches east of Fort Morgan, including Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Pensacola and along the Panhandle of Florida.
How many shark attacks have been in Gulf Shores?
102
There have been 102 reported shark attacks along Gulf Coast state since 1865. With data from the Global Shark Attack File, AL.com has plotted those attacks in the map below.
Has there been shark attacks in Gulf Shores Alabama?
In Alabama, a vacationing teen says he wants to return to the Gulf of Mexico after being bitten by a shark in Gulf Shores April 12. Blake Berry, 17, was swimming with a friend in chest-deep water when he felt clamp-like pressure on his right foot.
What is the best month to go to Gulf Shores Alabama?
The best times to visit Gulf Shores are March through May and September through November. Travelers can take advantage of these sweet spots outside the busy (and more expensive) summertime and enjoy swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, which still offers pleasant temperatures in the late spring and early fall.
Which is better Orange Beach or Gulf Shores?
Gulf Shores vs Orange Beach- Which is better? Gulf Shores is a great destination for a family vacation or weekend getaway, but you may want to consider Orange Beach if you prefer a small-town atmosphere or if you are looking for more golf courses and upscale amenities.
Does Gulf Shores have clear water?
CLEAR, BLUE, WARM WATERS
The Gulf waters of Alabama are warmer than the beaches on the Atlantic coast. The waves tend to be more gentle, rarely rising or falling more than a foot or so.
Are alligators a problem in Alabama?
In the 1970s, the American alligator in Alabama was put on the endangered species list because they were hunted to near extinction. But in the past 50 years their population in the state has grown to the point where hundreds of annual complaints about them are reported.
How many alligator attacks have there been in Alabama?
5 alligator bites
Alligators can attack people but attacks and fatalities are rare. According to the International Shark Attack File (which also monitors alligator conflicts), there have been 5 alligator bites in Alabama and 0 fatalities.
Which state has the most alligators?
Louisiana
There are gators in every part of Louisiana. The state has one million wild alligators and another million on alligator farms. It has more alligators than any other state. It is also the only state where you can see rare white alligators, which are native to Louisiana.
Do alligators live in saltwater?
There are many things you may encounter when swimming in the ocean. Alligators probably aren’t one of them. While alligators can tolerate salt water for a few hours or even days, they are primarily freshwater animals, living in swampy areas, rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds.
Can you swim in Orange Beach Alabama?
Orange Beach, Alabama, is on the Gulf of Mexico, offering white sand beaches perfect for local festivals, boating, fishing, water sports, swimming and the relaxing pace of this southern vacation destination.
Are there mountain lions in Alabama?
Cougars probably were extirpated from Alabama in the mid-1800s. Occasional sightings suggest free-ranging pumas, of unknown origin, occasionally may be present in Alabama, but there is no self-sustaining population currently known.
Are there big cats in Alabama?
Alabama has two native cats. The first and largest is the mountain lion, also called a cougar, catamount, painter, puma or panther. Cougars are tawny brown to grayish in color, weighing from 75 to 120 pounds, and can reach a length of about 6½ feet, nose to tail.
Is there wolves in Alabama?
The red wolf was extirpated from Alabama in the early 1920s. HABITAT: Prefers bottomland river forest and swamps with various stages of succession but will utilized agricultural land and coastal prairie marshes. In general, they can thrive in most areas that have adequate prey populations and little human persecution.