Discover Why One Georgia River Is Becoming Infested With Alligators

Animal populations increase and decrease for a variety of different reasons. This could be because of deaths, births, or being pushed out of one’s environment. It’s important for our cities to keep an eye on when populations either increase or decrease in order for us to provide safety alerts to its citizens and also in the protection of that animal species. Let’s take a look at the rise in the alligator population in a Georgia river.

Alligator Population Growing in Georgia

Back on June 14, 2007, the Georgia National Park Service released a statement that there was at least one alligator sighting in the Chattahoochee river. This gator ended up being estimated to be 6-8 feet in length. One of their parks service staff said in the announcement that “it’s unusual for an alligator to show up because Atlanta is too cold for them to survive year-round.”

Flash forward to this past month of 2023, and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office reported a rise in alligator sightings in this same river, the Chattahoochee River. “The Georgia Department of Natural Resources says alligators usually live south of the fall line, so these alligators are not out of their normal habitat.”

They have estimated that there are at least 30 alligators that have been spotted close to this river. They are warning citizens to be careful when near that area.

“You need to be aware of while you’re on the river walk, and you need to be aware of why you’re in the Chattahoochee River and enjoying yourself,” Muscogee County Underwater Criminal Investigator Russell Sharman told WTVM.

How Many Alligators Live in Georgia?

Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) of the family Alligatoridae are large reptiles that reside in Asia and in North America. There are estimated to be some four million alligators in their population that span across these two continents.

We know that Louisiana and Florida take the lead in how many alligators live in those two states. Louisiana comes in first with over two million, and Florida has an estimated over a million. Georgia has an estimated over 200,000 gators living in their state.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division announced in 1989 a nuisance alligator program. This program “ allows licensed agent trappers to capture and harvest specific nuisance alligators four feet or larger. A nuisance alligator is one that (1) is located outside of its normal range, (2) has been fed, intentionally or not, by humans, or (3) become so habituated to humans that they no longer move away from humans or become aggressive.”