Louisiana is renowned for many unique qualities including its gumbo and specialty foods, Mardi Gras celebrations, Cajun music, Creole language and even Spanish moss. But perhaps the one thing that evokes the most interest to visitors and natives alike is the infamous king of the swamp: the alligator.

Alligators were once practically unseen and unsighted north of Alexandria and folks had to travel outside of the central part of the state in hopes of encountering one. One of the earliest stories concerning a gator sighting in LaSalle Parish came out of the 1940’s when a local man claimed to have found a mama alligator sitting on a nest full of eggs close to Old River. He robbed the nest of the eggs and told his story of the alligator’s presence to his neighbors. People across the Parish were roused up and quite worried that an alligator was actually living within the Parish lines. While today, folks would enjoy the sighting of a gator, it would hardly make the news or even the everyday conversations of most.

Another “older than dirt” gator tale involved two young lads from many decades ago. It was told that the two boys had an alligator encounter that ended in an unavoidable death for the gator. They loaded the deceased reptile up in the back of an old pickup truck and were transporting him through their local town only to find during the trip the gator had undergone a resurrection! The once dead animal was seen rearing its head up and showing off its toothy smile. What happened after that remains to be untold or perhaps has been lost with time.

Then there’s the story of folks in our neighboring parish to the south who have stepped out of boats after sunset only to find a ‘friendly’ ten-foot gator lounging on the lake bank waiting to welcome them back to camp. The tale seems to end there because no one remembers what happened next. Today, it’s not uncommon to see Facebook postings of alligators sunning on a major Louisiana highway or lounging on the banks of one of the local lakes. Area LaSalle residents have even reported seeing one or two skinny gators living in creeks near their homes, a rare incident but nonetheless a true one. It seems gators can be found just about everywhere there’s a natural waterway and can make themselves at home with or without an invitation from nearby residents.

The low alligator population changed with laws passed and conservation acts enforced regarding alligator management and the onset of environmental restrictions. Once threatened by unregulated hunting, the alligator population is now completely recovered. The advent of alligator farms has also helped to sustain the population.

Louisiana’s wild alligator population is the largest in the United States, having increased from less than 100,000 to more than two million in the last fifty years, with alligator farms housing nearly one million gators. Efforts began in 1972 under the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and continue today with alligators being removed from the endangered species list in 1987. Louisiana’s landmass includes four million acres of suitable alligator habitat in its swamps, marshes and many lakes. Alligator products bring hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue to the state annually, and over 30,000 wild alligators and 250,000 farm raised gators are harvested yearly. Currently, alligators are worth $14-20 per foot depending on the length of the gator.

It is illegal for the general public to handle or possess an alligator in the State of Louisiana. Attacks are rare; however, alligators are most aggressive during mating season from April to June. While alligator attacks are not uncommon in other states, Louisiana has only had two recorded fatal attacks as compared to a recorded 401 attacks in Florida. In 2021, the remains of a 71-year-old St. Tammany Parish man were found inside a 12-foot alligator after the man vanished having been attacked by the 504-pound gator.

Alligators do have a natural fear of people and will usually retreat quickly when approached. They emit a hissing sound that serves as a warning sign that you are in their territory. If grabbed by an alligator, poke it in the eyes as its eyes are its most vulnerable part, hit it on the head and if it encases your hand in its mouth, push your hand down its gullet. These reptiles are known to frequently release victims to reposition them. While afraid of people, gators are quite fond of eating dogs.

Alligators can grow long and massive. The largest one recorded in Louisiana was 19 feet 2 inches long. It is estimated that it weighed around 2,000 pounds. Amazingly, alligators can and do climb trees and can also reach speeds of 20 mph on land having even more stamina in the water. It’s best to be respectful and keep a good distance from these critters.

Alligator season and harvests can result in more than just gator tales. While some like to wear the expensive alligator skin on their feet in boots or shoes and others like to hang it on their shoulders as a stylish bag or expensive fashion statement, others prefer to savor it in a good meal. Louisiana dishes that revolve around harvested meat include lip-smacking etouffees, alligator sauce picante, gumbos and fried gator. While the dark meat of the animal can be cooked and eaten, it’s the alligator tail that lends the most delectable dishes.

Both gator tales and gator tails have their place in this fine state, and the opportunity to see one or eat one in a tasty dish continues to entice people. Most people prefer seeing them from a distance or view them steaming deliciously from a bed of white rice. Whatever the occasion, there’s nothing quite like eyeing a gator and watching it in its natural habitat. It’s an impressive sight and one that’s sure to make the heart skip a beat or two.