they fit perfectly into our ongoing long-term research on the
ecology of alligators living in coastal environments. We are
currently studying a variety of ecological, physiological, and
ecotoxicological endpoints in alligators living in coastal areas
of South Carolina (e.g., Yawkey Wildlife Center, near the
animal’s northern distributional limit; the ACE Basin in the
southern coastal plain) as well at the Kennedy Space Center
in Florida. Each of these sites has unique characteristics, but
they share many common attributes as well. The addition of
Kiawah Island as a study site in this long-term research effort
will provide critical information on how these long-lived
reptiles continue to adapt to rapidly changing environments
along the southeastern coastal plain.”
In the first year of the study, the group captured about 50
alligators. They have taken blood and urine samples, skin
samples, and have placed PIT tags on the animals. The blood
and urine samples will be analyzed at the Hollings Marine
Laboratory (on James Island) for heavy metals, pesticides, and
hormone concentrations. They will also begin examining the
population genetics of our alligators.
In subsequent years the collection of body fluids will
continue. In addition, they will collect alligator eggs to
determine viability and, using a subset of eggs, to examine
the eggs for contaminants. Finally, they plan to develop a
tracking program using radio/GPS collars to establish land
use patterns, much as the Town biologists have done with our
bobcat population.
If you see the alligator research team on the Island, stop and
talk with them. They are excited about their work, and will
leave you excited about it as well and even more interested.
Alligator Myths and Realities
Alligators are not warm and fuzzy; indeed, they have been
demonized throughout history. As a result, many myths have
grown up around them. For example, it is said that alligators
will chase people. They are dangerous, but they are not evil
or out to get you! In fact, as Professor Guillette will attest,
they are rather shy. As a document from the South Carolina
Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) states, that is one
reason they can live so long. Furthermore, adult humans are
too large to be a suitable prey. That said, if an alligator does
make an aggressive charge—perhaps a female with young
nearby—do not run in a zig-zag path but run fast and straight.
A gator can run up to 30 miles an hour over a short distance.
Although alligator legs are very short, they have powerful
tails and strong hands and feet. This makes them agile
climbers. They can climb trees to bask in the s ո