Where do Alligators Live in Louisiana?
Alligators live in and around water including swamps, marshes, bayous, canals, rivers and lakes. In Louisiana most of the alligators live along the coast in the marsh areas. They are mostly freshwater animals but can tolerate salt water so the brackish water along the coast in a fine environment for them. Coastal marshes (3 million acres) Cypress-tupelo swamp (750,600 acres) Atchafalaya Basin swamp (207,000 acres) Lakes (32,105 acres) While most alligators can be found along the coast, this article will look specifically at the most alligator infested lakes in Louisiana.
Do Alligators Live in Groups?
Alligators, especially the adult males, live mostly on their own. So if you are thinking of finding a lake full of hundreds of thrashing alligators you will be disappointed. Crocodiles are more social and the ones you might commonly see basking in the sun together. Alligators will do the same, gather to bask in the sun, but for the most part they will be seen individually. During mating season there will be socializing and fighting amongst the alligators. When they do gather together a group of alligators is called a congregation!
Lake Martin
Lake Martin is definitely one of the most alligator infested lakes in Louisiana. It is located in the Cypress Island Nature Preserve, just west of the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge. There is a bridge along the lake that you can usually spot alligators from. If you are a little braver you can venture out in a canoe or kayak. The alligators can be seen swimming sometimes with just their eyes and nostrils above the water, or basking in the sun on the shore. You may see an alligator on the shore with its mouth open. They are not waiting to attack but their mouth serves as an air conditioner of sorts. Alligators open their mouths to help them regulate their temperature. As cold-blooded reptiles they have to be able to adjust to their environment. They may just be showing off their teeth! There are many fish, frogs, turtles and birds in and around Lake Martin, all part of the diet of the Alligator. Louisiana’s Lake Martin is also home to nutrias (coypus) which are large semi-aquatic rodents, some can get to be 2 feet long and weigh 35 pounds! If a nutria comes down to the water’s edge to get a drink they are risking becoming dinner for the alligator. Alligators often hide in the water and wait for prey then spring an attack, swallowing their prey whole.
Caddo Lake
Caddo Lake is located in the far Northwest corner of the state. It is in Caddo Parish, Louisiana and Harrison and Marion Counties in Texas. About half the lake is in Louisiana and the other half in Texas. This large 26,810 acre lake is home to some of the most alligators in any lake in the state. Alligators are around 12 feet long and can weigh 1,000 pounds. If you want to see one (on purpose) you can rent a canoe or kayak and explore along the edge of the lake. If you want to avoid alligators then this lake and park are not for you! On May 22, 2016, Jeremy Moore caught an enormous alligator in Caddo Lake. He was on the Texas side when he and his dad and two young sons found the giant gator lying on the bank of the lake. They thought maybe it was already dead because it remained so still. When it finally moved its head they shot it. The alligator was 13 feet 2 inches and weighed 900 pounds! They were not in the park, they were hunting on private land so it was legal for him to take it with him (although it took a while and a lot of help to get it into the back of his pick up!). With alligators that big, it is safe to say that Caddo Lake is not a great place for an afternoon swim.
Cross Lake
Cross Lake is located not far from Caddo Lake. It is near the town of Shreveport in northwestern Louisiana. The 8,960 acre lake is a good place to go hunting for alligators. You do need to follow the hunting regulations and obtain the proper tag. Cross Lake is a recreational lake and there are many areas that you can go swimming. The alligators tend to live in the bayous and canals in and around the lake. As with all lakes, ponds and waterways in the state you should not swim at night, this is when alligators are most likely to be hunting and you don’t want to tempt one.
Cypress Lake
It may surprise you to learn that the University of Louisiana campus in Lafayette has a lake on campus that is home to a population of alligators! Cypress Lake is a small, 2-acre lake that has become a popular tourist attraction due to the alligators. There is a deck near the dining hall where visitors can look for alligators and often see them getting some sun. Other wildlife you might see include yellow-bellied and red-bellied turtles, snapping turtles, garfish, bass and carp. Alligators on campus- you would think that would be a risky thing, but there have never been any accidents from the alligators on campus. They do occasionally wander out of the lake and have been found near the dorms or in the parking lot. When these are reported the University police call the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and they come and relocate the alligator into the wild. There are definitely some places in Louisiana that you can find the most alligator infested lakes. Remember to always keep a safe distance when observing wildlife and be prepared if you ever choose to tour the campus of the University of Louisiana.
