They can withstand periods of ice by sticking their snout out of the water before it freezes which allows them to continue breathing. People ask this all the time. Alligators are hardy reptiles, but when temperatures drop below a certain point, they will have to leave the area or perish. A four-foot alligator was captured Tuesday in East Tennessee's Monroe County. Alligators prefer to do much of their hunting during the night and are also more active during the transitional periods between day and night. But Tennessee has a more temperate than tropical climate, so how do the alligators that have reached Tennessee survive there during the colder months? Alligator populations are well established in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, with each of these states boasting several thousand alligators. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) personnel recently caught footage of the massive reptile at Wolf River in Feyette County. So, yes, alligators can be found in Tennessee! A pair of black tights are a necessity, rather than just an accessory, to stay stylish and comfortable when temperatures drop. Timber rattlesnakes also become nocturnal during the summer heat. Alligators are rarely found south of the Rio Grande drainage. TWRA has not stocked any alligators in Tennessee. Reports of alligator sightings in Tennessee have been made from Memphis in western Tennessee to Bradley County, near the Appalachian Mountains in the east. Alligators first appeared around 37 million years ago. Alligators and cougars are protected by state laws in Tennessee" In the past four years, the TWRA says there have been ten cougar sightings. "Alligators expanding into Tennessee is just. There are two species of alligator alive today - the American alligator and the Chinese alligator (which is threatened with extinction). Conclusion: Do you still want to visit Tennessee? The man told the agency that he had seen the reptile several times before, but he never thought it was a threat to him or his family. One of the main things to know about Alligators is that they like it warm. Species expanding their ranges into Tennessee are protected and may not be taken until a hunting season is proclaimed. Alligators are opportunistic feeders that prey on fish, turtles, snakes, frogs, and waterfowl. TWRA said it received a call from a man who said he saw an alligator swimming in a creek near his home. It is about 3-to 4-feet long and was spotted Tuesday evening. Alligators are pretty scarce, even in the northern parts of Georgia and Alabama. The American Alligator was on the verge of extinction in the 1970's. The alligator was placed on the Endangered Species list and has since made a remarkable recovery. "There's probably single digits of alligators in the state and . Species expanding their ranges into Tennessee are protected and may not be taken until a hunting. In 2015, we had a cougar show up that we were able to confirm with hard evidence was actually a cougar and was actually in our state explained Sweaney. "Alligators migrating into Tennessee is just another species that we must learn to coexist with like many of the other southern states," the agency said. The discoveries may leave some. Human beings are not on the menu for alligators, who prefer to eat fish, snakes, frogs, birds, turtles, and small mammals, including raccoons and deer. Some people think they have spotted these animals recently, but they were probably confusing them with coyotes or even domestic dogs. To survive the winters in Tennessee, alligators undergo a process known as brumation, a state of decreased metabolism and restfulness in reptiles. 2023 www.tennessean.com. [With Infographic], 15 All Inclusive Nude Beach Resorts #Nakation, 15 Best All Inclusive Resorts in Florida [with pricing], Naka Cave, Thailand: The Truth Behind the Legends of Snake Rock. According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, alligators have been sighted at the Wolf River WMA in Fayette County. At the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, you will find a palate-dazzling smorgasbord of cuisines and cocktails in which to indulge. Don't expect to see lots of large alligators just yet - but there is now an established population there. Alligators have been reported to be moving north according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA). Alligators are now living in the Memphis area, and state wildlife officials say more of the river reptiles are slowly moving our way. Female boars are often found with their young, and adolescent male boars will group together. Cougars used to be found in the state until the early 1900s when they became extinct in the state, but it now seems like they are making a comeback there. According to TWRA, alligators normally live in states further south, but are naturally migrating into Tennessee. Historical maps of the range of alligators include areas along the Mississippi River (from which alligators derive their name), including Shelby County, near Memphis, and even further north. There were sights of american alligators, alligator gars, and water snakes in the tennessee river. They will not eat but instead seek shelter and wait. But sometimes, animals naturally expand their own native ranges. Cougar sightings in Tennessee 5 years ago; are they making a comeback? Alligators are a protected specices, therefore caching or shooting one is against the law. If humans encroach on their territory they could come to check them out. Alligators are naturally expanding their range into Tennessee from the southern border states. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Wildlife experts say alligators are naturally expanding their territory into Tennessee from the southern border. RELATED: Are There Alligators in Illinois? Theyve also spotted a gator on the Tennessee River in Hardin County, and on the Mississippi River in Shelby County, as the ancient creatures make their way up to our neck of the woods from the Deep South. Black panther is the term given to any species of the cat family that is black, or melanistic. NASHVILLLE, Tenn. (WZTV) -- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) reports there is evidence cougars and alligators are expanding into the state. They can be dangerous, but Cameron said we should be more concerned with a different type of gator. They are rarely longer than 1.5 but that is about 1.5 too long for us. Wildlife experts in Tennessee suggest that people keep their distance from alligators. And this was just the latest in a handful of confirmed alligator sightings in the state. Bears prefer to be left alone by people but are curious animals. Their bellies could be white or cream, and the males have longer tails. "The Florida gator football team is probably more of a threat to Tennesseans than anything," said Cameron. In fact, the biggest enemy of this animal in recent years, apart from the human, has been CWD Chronic Wasting Disease. Sometimes, good things do not come in small packages. Most alligators are located in the southern and western parts of the state since that is closer to their source, and the temperatures are more favorable to alligators. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) While enjoying the great outdoors this summer, you could be joined by some unexpected critters. If you come across one while exploring the outdoors in West TN, leave it alone and enjoy Tennessees unique biodiversity. In recent years, only a handful of alligators have been sighted in eastern Tennessee (usually escaped pets). Born and raised in South Africa, David is a wildlife enthusiast, volunteer, and educator. 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If you come across one while exploring the outdoors in West TN, leave it alone and enjoy Tennessees unique biodiversity, says the TWRA. "There's probably single digits of alligators in the state and in West Tennessee, so it's highly unlikely that you'll encounter one," said Matt Cameron with TWRA. If we told you that Tennessee is ranked the fifth state out of all fifty American states where humans are most likely to be killed by an animal, would you still want to go? Alligators seem to be expanding their range, and now they can be spotted in southwestern Tennessee. I read." | Check out 7 answers, plus see 132 reviews, articles, and 80 photos of Percy Priest Lake, ranked No.64 on Tripadvisor among 1,018 attractions in Nashville. 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Several caiman crocodiles have also been spotted in east tennessee. There are alligators in Tennessee, but population numbers are low, and they are likely to migrate away during harsher winters. Alligators thrive in the southern states because it gets so warm. It tends to only be the mature male that adopts a solitary lifestyle (until they get the mating urge). They are fantastic jumpers too, even being able to jump 8 feet. Watch out for the two below. But whether the hatchlings can withstand freezing winter temperatures remains to be seen. The Agency says not to panic though because the number of alligators in Tennessee is very low and they are expanding slowly so its highly unlikely youll see one anytime soon. Alligators are opportunistic feeders that prey on fish, turtles, snakes, frogs, and waterfowl. They have been spotted in parts of central Tennessee multiple times over the past several years. If you are bitten by one of these you can experience some rather nasty symptoms, although we can reassure you (somewhat) that they are unlikely to kill a human. A pair of black tights are a necessity, rather than just an accessory, to stay stylish and comfortable when temperatures drop. The bear should eventually go away. But the brumation is actually the best option for alligators who have moved up north because an alligator could completely freeze to death if they leave the water on a cold day. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Alligators are opportunistic feeders who prey on turtles, snakes, frogs, water birds, and fish. The winters in Tennessee are too harsh for the species to establish a permanent population, and their distribution will likely be limited. However, if you do see a gator TWRA reports alligators are a protected species and killing or capturing one is a violation of the law. Elk are related to deer but larger. 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