If you’re afraid of alligators, make sure to be extra careful in these cities. Alligators may only cover a small southern area of America, but their numbers in certain areas make you think otherwise. Explore locations filled with gators, like the Alligator Capital, to lakes that house prehistoric monsters weighing over 1,000 lbs!
Miami, Florida
Miami isn’t just a party city, it’s also a gator city! Situated not far from the Everglades National Park, Miami has many alligators in its less urban areas. Almost 200,000 alligators are estimated to live in the Everglades, so you’ll often see wild gators lying in bodies of water next to roads and occasionally roaming further into the city.
New Orleans, Louisiana
You’ll want to stay out of the water when visiting New Orleans. Louisiana has the highest alligator population in America, and most of their alligators live on the coastal regions, like New Orleans. The Mississippi River also houses many gators across the state, and it just so happens that it twists and turns through the city.
Orlando, Florida
Orlando has the best of both alligator spotting worlds. Lake Jesup, one of the most alligator-infested bodies of water in America, is found in the city. Not to mention the abundance of other surrounding lakes and swamps that contain additional alligators. If you’re not interested in seeing wild alligators, you can visit Gatorland, which features thousands of gators and even has the rare white gator.
Houston, Texas
Houston might not be as swampy as other cities on this list, but their alligator numbers are no joke. Buffalo Bayou is one of the closest gator-infested bodies of water, and contains a fair amount of Houston’s alligator numbers. Many state parks all around the city have rivers and lakes that house alligators coming from the Gulf Coast or other surrounding wetlands.
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile has too many ways for alligators to get into the city. The city’s coastal region features many bayous and wetlands that give gators an easy route into the city. But the local state park and rivers to the north are the most concerning, as they lead alligators into Mobile Bay. These rivers are protected, which only increases the alligator numbers between Blakeley State Park and the Upper Delta Wildlife Management Area.
Savannah, Georgia
The large rivers flowing through Savannah house many alligators that make their way up and down the waterways. Savannah has many islands on the coast, as well as the Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge, which houses the bulk of their alligator inhabitants. It’s quite common to spot alligators while playing golf on Skidaway Island!
Gainesville, Florida
Florida has roughly 1.2 million alligators spread throughout the state. Gainesville is situated not far from Lake Jesup and Orange Lake, two of the most alligator-infested lakes in America. To put it into perspective, Lake Jesup by itself is around 16,000 acres of prime alligator habitat, and conservationists have estimated around 13,000 alligators live in the lake.
Columbia, South Carolina
The two major rivers that flow through Columbia, the Broad and Saluda, are connected to many of the streams and wetlands alligators inhabit. Since South Carolina’s alligator numbers are low compared to other states with alligators, many gators have been spotted sunbathing in the areas these rivers pass through. However, their numbers greatly decrease when they move to warmer waters in the wintertime.
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is situated not far from New Orleans, and is surrounded by wildlife refuges and state parks. These areas are swampy wetlands that many alligators call their home. Louisiana is estimated to have around 2 million alligators, making it common to see them crossing roads, swimming in rivers, and stalking fishermen.
Tampa, Florida
If you came to see alligators roaming the streets, Tampa will have you sorely disappointed. Tampa might have a lot of alligators, but most of them are found in the northern and northeastern outskirts of the city. Areas like Hillsborough River, Lake Keystone, and various other lakes house the majority of Tampa’s gators.
Galveston, Texas
If you’re planning a beach vacation to Galveston, make sure you come with treats for the alligators. Most of Galveston’s alligators are found around the city, with some exceptions of them walking onto the beach to give visitors and residents a quick scare. However, if you wander out into the marshes, you’ll rapidly see an increase in alligators.
Jackson, Mississippi
It’s estimated that Mississippi has around 32,000 to 38,000 alligators. Jackson, which is relatively close to the Mississippi River, is said to have nearly 25% of all the alligators in Mississippi. The city is also close to Louisiana, and some of the 2 million alligators living in Louisiana can always wander over the border into Jackson, increasing its alligator population further.
Okeechobee, Florida
Okeechobee might have more alligators than it has people. Okeechobee is next to Florida’s largest lake with the same name. It sprawls a staggering 451,000 acres with an estimated number of 30,000 alligators roaming its waters. Luckily, Okeechobee is quite a small city with little to offer visitors, but if you want to see alligators you’ll need to go to Okeechobee.
Shreveport, Louisiana
You won’t want to go swimming in the lake near Shreveport. Cross Lake covers over 8,900 acres, and many residents recommend swimming in the lake, but that’s just a sick joke. Luckily, gators do stay near the swamps, and only come out when it gets dark. Areas like the Red River National Wildlife Refuge or the Red River itself house many gators as well.
Uncertain, Texas
Uncertain is a town in Texas that shares Caddo Lake with Louisiana. The massive lake sprawls over 25,000 acres and is right next to Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Many believe it to be the most alligator-infested lake in Louisiana, and some alligators have been seen to weigh upwards of 1,000 lbs!
