Alligators in South Carolina
The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is the only crocodilian native to South Carolina. Though once listed as a federally endangered species, populations have rebounded and the alligator's status has been upgraded to threatened due to its similarity of appearance to the threatened American crocodile. Populations of alligators in South Carolina have done so well, that the DNR instituted a hunting season in 2008. There are only two species of alligator, the American alligator occurring in the southern United States, and the smaller Chinese alligator from eastern China. American alligators can live to be more than 60 years old and attain lengths greater than 13 feet.
University of Georgia, SREL
Hunting information for alligators
Additional resources for alligators
- American alligator - ACE Basin species gallery
- Complaint Numbers for Nuisance Alligators
- National Geographic - American alligator
- SC Aquarium Species Guide
Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy
- American alligator - Adobe PDF
Will Dillman - SCDNR Herpetologist
Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
PO Box 23205
Columbia, SC 29224
A file above is provided in Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format. Adobe® Reader® is required to open these files and is available as a free download from the Adobe® Web site.