Are there alligators in the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia?

It turns out that they do not. Alligators can be found in Merchants Millpond State Park, North Carolina, just south of the Dismal Swamp, and at Kitty Hawk. None live naturally in Virginia – yet. However, a warming climate may yet result in a natural range expansion northward across the border into the Dismal Swamp.

Do American alligators live in Virginia?

There are no gators in Virginia!” Well that’s a good point: There are no wild alligators in Virginia…for now. In the past, the range of American Alligators extended just up into Virginia, mostly in the area of the Great Dismal Swamp.

Are there alligators in Hampton Roads?

“It’s categorically untrue, folklore, rumors that people spread. There is zero evidence that there are any naturally occurring alligators in the state of Virginia,” says John Kleopfer (DGIF).

Are there alligators in the Great Dismal Swamp?

Alligators are sometimes found in VA’s Great Dismal Swamp, but are left alone as long as they stay more or less where they belong (Gators are naturally timid of human activity so they are not especially likely to cause any problems). It’s when they venture outside their habit that people say they don’t belong.

Are there alligators in Virginia?

Well that’s a good point: There are no wild alligators in Virginia…for now. In the past, the range of American Alligators extended just up into Virginia, mostly in the area of the Great Dismal Swamp. However, hunting in the 1900’s decimated the populations of gators, driving them to the brink of extinction.

How big is the Alligator at the Virginia State Museum?

At just over six feet and weighing in at about 110 lbs, the alligator on exhibit is the largest reptile the herpetology team cares for at the museum (this does not include the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, cared for by our awesome Aquariums department)! “Wait a minute! There are no gators in Virginia!”

What happened to the dead alligator in the Virginia landfill?

The dead alligator was seized and ultimately buried in the Virginia landfill. 1 The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission authorized a hunting season in 2018, since the population had increased sufficiently within that state. The first legal hunt that year led to the harvest of one 20-year old alligator. 2