Just the vastness and pristineness make it a great home for alligators to thrive in. (WHLT) An alligator must really love that chicken from Popeyes! Lots of companies offer boat tours which will take you out into the river for a chance of spotting amazing wildlife including alligators. Flynt said Mississippi has a solid alligator population of about 50,000, and 25 percent of that total population call the Pascagoula River basin home. I could go to the Woolworth and buy anything I wanted, but I still couldn't sit at the lunch counter. The best time of year to see alligators in Mississippi is in spring and fall. ", 'I knew that was it':Caught in the jaws of an alligator. NNehring/Getty Images. It is located northeast of Ellisville, the first county seat, which contains the first county courthouse. Wayne, an alligator trapper, said he had to put the. Estimates on the population vary, but biologists agree that Mississippi's black bear numbers are growing. And I went, 'Wow, I must go there!' On a recent MDWFP sanctioned hunt, Lisa A. Pflug was able to kill a 12-foot alligator on the Wolf River. It's in the most pristine watersheds in North America. The most common place to find alligators in Mississippi is in the Pascagoula River. By the time an animal control officer showed up, the gator had taken cover under a pile of pallets next to the restaurants dumpster. The name of the hunter was not released. It's made Laurel a popular destination, especially for fans. In person it is even more of a stunner. "We discourage feeding them by throwing food in the water, and we discourage the use of fish feeders in the area with alligators, They will utilize the food resource and learn to associate with human activity. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships, working for The Royal Obsession and Anatomie clothing. West Nile virus does not make the headlines quite like it did years ago, but cases continue to be reported. It is historically called the Singing River according to legends that the death chants of the late Pascagoula Indian tribes can still be heard during the night. The coastal area has always been part of their natural range. Spend the night at Laurel Cottages,an Airbnb just a few blocks from downtown that's run by Mallorie and Jim Rasberry. (Breakfast is included for guests of their B&B upstairs.). However, that's not typically the case as Flynt said there is usually a range of temperatures in a nest, producing a healthy mix of males and females. This is your guide to discovering Laurel, Mississippi, the official filming location for Home Town on HGTV, starring Laurel's own Erin and Ben Napier. I'm an HGTV junkie, so one night I was hunched over my computer, and here came a new TV show, Home Townfirst season, first episode. In the park, you're most likely to see alligators in the Davis Bayou Area. Erin Napier Pens Inspiring Note About How Far Laurel, Mississippi, Has Come, What It's Really Like To Have Your Home Renovated On Ben And Erin Napier's 'Home Town', Ree Drummond Convinced Ben And Erin Napier To Star In Upcoming Christmas Movie. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Mechanization of agriculture reduced the number of farming jobs. By the early 1900s, the success of Eastman-Gardner Company's operations in Laurel and the region's superabundance of timber began to attract the attention of other lumber industrialists. It's been an amazing journey. Wildlife viewing, hunting, and fishing are among the most frequent activities. Jackson County is home to an estimated 12,500 alligators. This ranch features over 150-acres of swampland perfect for the large population of alligators that call this place home. "I'd been in Denver, Colorado, most of my adult life (though I grew up on a big farm in South Dakota). (Book onlinehe stays busy!). Jones County trappers catch 740-pound gator, 2-vehicle crash on MS-588 causes multiple fatalities, Suspect charged with manslaughter for Bassfield shooting over the weekend, Paradise Pier opens this weekend in Biloxi, GRAPHIC: Huskies rescued, owner arrested in Jones Co. following animal welfare complaint, Hattiesburg police seek publics help to find runaway teen. Thank you for reading! I watched the town die and saw the people try to save it." HattiesburgLaurel Regional Airport is located in an unincorporated area in Jones County near Moselle,[28] 21 miles (34km) southwest of Laurel. During its first decade or so, Laurel existed as little more than a glorified lumber camp surrounding Kamper and Lewin's primitive sawmill. Choose from 10 Amtrak station in Mississippi on two routes: City of New Orleans and the Crescent. In Mississippi, there is no record of an alligator attack, fatal or not. I would take photos of a corner downtown that people might overlook. GULFPORT, Miss. But when people interact with the reptiles, such as by feeding them, they become more comfortable around humans and the risk of conflict dramatically rises. In 2017, a fishing couple caught a dead 10-foot alligator in the Neuse River near New Bern, according to N&O archives. With its area spanning ten states, it would be no surprise if locals or tourists reported alligator sightings near or within the river. According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, there are about 55 alligators currently making Okatibbee Lake their home. According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, there are about 55 alligators currently making Okatibbee Lake their home. It is one of the two extant species in the genus Alligator, and is larger than the only other living alligator species, the Chinese alligator . When it is warm, youll often see the alligators resting on the bank of the pond. The Pascagoula River is around 80 miles long and flows through southeastern Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico. I would not be surprised if we see one (1,000 pounds). Address: 3500 Park Rd, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, Opening Times: Monday to Sunday, 6am to 10pm. Young, who is a biologist and spent many years working with black bears, said low numbers of bears in the state is part of the reason they've not been a threat, but their nature should also be considered. The alligators can also often be seen lounging around along the banks of the lakes. Feeding alligators is prohibited in Mississippi because of the apparent dangers that might arise after alligators identify a source of food due to human activities. Have some feedback for us? At the time, the alligator population had suffered a severe . The median age was 35 years. After completing the purchase, Eastman and the Gardiner brothers decided to make substantial improvements to their Laurel lumber operations by constructing a new and much larger, state-of-the-art lumber mill. I think everybody was just so excited about downtown.". Its amazing more of us dont suffer a heat stroke. In truth, they aren't. Below I have listed the best places to see alligators in Mississippi including the exact spots and locations you should visit. More than 6,000 acres of the land are licensed to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks to manage wildlife within this area. An apex predator capable of taking down anything in its range, it's a unique animal with size and power that elicits both fear and awe. "They (Florida) have a tremendously larger alligator population than we do. Another zoo in Mississippi that has alligators is Hattiesburg Zoo, located within Kamper Park in Hattiesburg. According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, "the American alligator is found in the United States from North Carolina to the Rio Grande in Texas. The three-foot gator turned up at the restaurant location on Leontyne Price Boulevard. ':Alligator kills Mississippi woman's dog. According to the Grenada Star newspaper, it occurred in 2013. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. I grew up in a community called the KC in a three-room shotgun house. Alligators are more common in the river's smaller tributaries and swamps, where the water is warmer and there is more cover to hide in. In Mississippi, venomous species include the Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake, pygmy rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake, cottonmouth, coral snake and the most common, the copperhead. Theres plenty of places to see alligators in their natural habitat all over Mississippi from Jackson to the Mississippi Coast. Despite the many alligators in South Mississippi, Flynt said alligators are not a direct threat to humans unless an animal is fed by humans on a regular basis. No, it's not a crock: Two hunting parties in Mississippi both bagged alligators weighing more than 700 pounds. If you've ever lived in a small town or are familiar with how . [11] The area is also prone to tornadoes. Not only are the mosquitoes huge, theyre relentless. Did you know that 84 species of reptiles, 426 species of birds, and over 120 species of fish make Mississippi their forever home? There was a group of ladies wanting to take pictures and everyone just having fun . However, not anyone can trap gators because it is illegal, and a person could get fined up to $10,000. An adult alligator hasbetween 74 and 84 teeth thatare mostly hollow. Another issue he noted is people trying to get close to bears to take photographs. We were going to go to the deep places together; we were going to genuinely love people.". Mr. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.87% of the population. I got involved after college. 'You could tell it was bone cracking. The Jackson Zoo currently has around 250 animals representing over 120 different species. ". [7] The area is considered the largest, finest, and most intact collection of the early 20th century architecture in Mississippi and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since September 4, 1987,[8] for both its historical value and for its wide variety of architectural styles. I really could see it. I explained my cataracts theory, and this woman behind the counter looked at me and said, 'I'll take you.' The 15 Deepest Lakes in the United States, The 10 Largest Man-Made Lakes in the United States, Whats the Largest Man Made Lake in Pennsylvania, The Most Alligator Infested Lakes in Mississippi. The alligator was living in a private lagoon in Laurel and was removed on June 30. The river is also strongly preserved as it is one of the largest undammed rivers in the United States. We were just like, 'Yeah, Laurel's a cool placeyou didn't know?' Males had a median income of $27,077 versus $17,336 for females. When I got back, I said, 'All my friends are gone, deceasedwhat am I gonna do?' We put some lights in the trees and had these potluck parties and invited our friends from Hattiesburg. Female alligators are protective, caring mothers. Five years ago, there were maybe four or five businesses represented in our Laurel Main Street meetings. Fourteen northern Mississippi counties have produced no alligator records, but nuisance alligator complaints have come from as far north as Coahoma, Lafayette, and Itawamba Counties. According to the Kppen Climate Classification system, Laurel has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. To get this huge gator out of the water, Wayne used his gator fishing line, bait, truck and son Bo Parker to help out. "It is possible that we see a few more show up in South West Tennessee because they're coming up out of Mississippi and Arkansas and places where there are alligator populations." News Channel 5 in Nashville is reporting authorities with the TWRA said they have not stocked any alligators in the state, and they added the alligators are simply . The Gulf Coast Gator Ranch currently has around 70 alligators and they describe themselves as a sanctuary for alligators. Symptoms of the virus are generally mild. "I was the first generation in my family who was not born here. Check out the alligators at Gulf Coast Gator Ranch in the video below: Another place in Mississippi where you can see alligators is at the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge. Here in Mississippi, coming across animals on the road is almost as common as coming across other motorists. Flynt said it's possible for Mississippi to produce a 1,000-pound alligator that easily could top 18 feet. 8. In an argument, Blanche tells Harold Mitchell she's brought many victims into her web, and calls the hotel the Tarantula Arms rather than the Hotel Flamingo. Alligators become dormant in fall/winter and dont feed during this time. Here in Mississippi, coming across animals on the road is almost as common as coming across other motorists. They won't be seen swimming in the main channel of the river. However, the last significant sighting dates back to 2017, when someone from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stated that he saw three alligators at the lake. To learn more, explore Mississippi's Amtrak stations below: Mississippi Amtrak Stations City of New Orleans. "I mean, we were just kids, but Judi knew how to get grants and really make things happen.". Most wild alligators have an average lifespan of 35 to 50 years but can live as long as humans. At least they provide the perfect opportunity for a party. The Agape Church founders foster community beyond their walls. Until youve experienced it, you just wont understand. I invite people to do workshops on homeownership, and I tell them where I came from to show them how much Laurel has changed. The charming town of Laurel, Mississippi came to prominence as the yellow pine capital but most recently has appeared on the hit HGTV show Home Town, which premiered in 2016. Alligators, like other crocodilians, are large animals with powerful tails that are used both in defense and in swimming. In 2011, the . Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. Laid end to end, that amount of lumber would stretch 189 miles. Dana Sanders, Jr. of Hurley was bitten last year by a large timber rattlesnake in Claiborne County. "The potential is there," said Ricky Flynt, Alligator Program Coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. "They're climbing 20 to 25 feet.". Trapper Wayne'snuisance animal control made its biggest catch yet,an alligator that weighed over 700 pounds. Then, in the last decade or so, a grassroots movement began. But it can also be a killer. As long as people and alligators have shared Mississippi, there have been people who hunted the creatures. I hold seven years of professional experience in the content world, focusing on nature, and wildlife. The overall numbers and weights are not in for the 2012 season, since Mississippi no longer has alligator check stations. Today, there are about 30,000 of them in the state. "Not only in terms of the overall numbers, but Jackson and Hancock counties rank as the top two counties for preferred habitat for alligators," Flynt said. They also have a denser (human) population near water. Kamper and Lewin's mill was located in an area that would later become Laurel's First Avenue. But there was a time in the 1990s when I felt like this was the only retail store downtown. Alligators can be found in every county of the state, but southeast Mississippi reigns king. Stay at Bonnie's Laurel Cottage, a super-friendly place owned by Bonnie McConkey (it's about five minutes from downtown). On colder days, they usually stay in the water but you may still see their head bobbing in and out of the water every now and again. "It was kind of fake it till you make it," says Erin Napier. Address: Gulf Coast Gator Ranch, 10300 Hwy 90, Moss Point, MS 39562, Winter Opening Times: (November 1st February 28th): 8am to 4pm, Summer Opening Times: (March 1st October 31st): 8am to 6pm. While there have been roughly 30 fatal attacks in the last 60 years, all but two occurred in Florida. When they die, some must sink into the deep ocean. 11 The Estimated Alligator Population In Florida Is Around One Million. Fourteen northern Mississippi counties have produced no alligator records, but nuisance alligator complaints have come from as far north as Coahoma, Lafayette, and Itawamba Counties. That is where I became interested in cooking. It gives the public the chance to see and study wildlife from the region and from all around the world. Most alligators in Mississippi can be found in the southern two thirds of the state. "No, there's never been an attack," said Brad Young, executive director of Mississippi Wildlife Federation. 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