Snappy Facts and Fierce History: Celebrate National Alligator Day

This Thursday, we celebrate National Alligator Day, which is exactly what it sounds like: a whole day dedicated to one of the world’s most ancient and misunderstood reptiles. They’re not just swamp-dwelling grumps with teeth - they’re fascinating, clever, and tougher than most off-road vehicles.

Let’s dive in (figuratively, of course).

What is an alligator?

At a glance: imagine a lizard, bulk it up to about half a tonne, give it armour-plated skin, a bite strong enough to crush bone, and the kind of stare that says “I’ve seen things...”

Alligators are part of the crocodilian family, alongside crocodiles and caimans, but they’ve got their own vibe. You’ll mostly find them in the southeastern USA and parts of China, preferring freshwater like swamps, rivers, and marshes - basically, anywhere you’d think twice about wading through barefoot.

They’ve been on Earth for over 150 million years, which means they’ve outlived the dinosaurs, dodged several mass extinctions, and managed to keep doing their thing while the rest of us invented TikTok.

5 Cool (and Slightly Unnerving) Alligator Facts

• Their bite could crush bowling balls: An adult alligator can bite down with nearly 3,000 pounds of force. That’s not a nibble - it’s an industrial clamp with teeth.
• They’re basically stealth submarines: With eyes, ears, and nostrils all perched on top of their heads, gators can float almost completely submerged while scoping out the area. If you see ripples, it might be the wind. Or it might not.
• Not all that into you, actually: Despite their appearance, alligators are surprisingly shy. Most would rather slip away unnoticed than pick a fight. Unless you’re waving a chicken leg at them.
• Mum of the year material: Female alligators guard their nests like hawks and gently carry their babies to the water in their mouths. Yes, really.
• Frozen but make it reptilian: In cold weather, alligators go full survival mode: they stick their snouts out of frozen ponds to breathe while everything else slows down. It's called brumation, but we call it clever.

Gator vs. Croc: What's the Difference?

It’s a question people love to Google at 1am. Here’s the short version:

• Snout shape: Gators have wide, U-shaped snouts. Crocs go for the longer, V-shape.
• Temperament: Gators are a bit more chill. Crocs? Not so much.
• Where they live: Gators stick to freshwater. Crocs are saltwater-savvy and found in more tropical zones around the world.
• Think of it like this: alligators are the quiet cousin who prefers the pond, crocodiles are the one booking flights to Madagascar and picking fights at the airport.

Can You Meet One?

Now, we don’t want to burst your bubble... but we don’t currently offer alligator experiences. However, we do offer something just as thrilling: Incredible Crocodile Animal Encounters at Experiences.

Come face-to-face with one of nature’s most impressive predators (safely, of course). And if crocodiles aren’t your thing, we’ve got loads of other Animal Experiences too - everything from meerkat meet-and-greets to holding a tarantula (if you're brave enough).

So this National Alligator Day, take a moment to appreciate one of nature’s original heavyweights.

They’re ancient, fascinating, and absolutely not something you want to find in your swimming pool.

But in their natural habitat? They’re the kings of cool (and the occasional mud puddle).