By Delayna Earley
The Island News
The weather in Beaufort is getting warmer, which means that alligators will become increasingly more active, and the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) wants to remind residents to be “Alligator Safe” around water.
Alligators are reptiles, so they become more active in warmer weather. They can also be found in most bodies of water in the Lowcountry.
Smaller alligators, ones that are less than 4 feet, are usually not large enough to be dangerous to adult humans unless they are being handled, so SCDNR recommends that you never approach any alligator, regardless of its size, and to leave them alone.
SCDNR recently published a list of safety tips to remember as we move into the warmer months of the year:
- Never feed alligators. This is illegal in S.C. and it teaches the alligators to associate people with food, which is dangerous for both people and alligators. They also recommend that you not dispose of fish scraps or crab bait in the water at boat ramps, docks, swimming or camping areas. If you see someone feeding alligators, you can contact SCDNR at 1-800-922-5431.
- Do not swim or play in areas where there may be alligators. Alligators are typically more active at night and can mistake splashing noises for prey. SCDNR recommends that you only swim in designated swimming areas, as more people will typically encourage alligators to keep their distance. You should never swim alone, partly because of alligators but also because it is just not safe.
- Keep pets out of water where there may be alligators. Pets are more vulnerable to an alligator attack because of their size and the fact that they look like the prey that alligators usually eat. Keep pets who are on leashes away from the edges of water and if an alligator grabs your pet, as hard as it may be, let go of the leash.
- Leave the alligators alone and keep your distance. Alligators are known to be fast in the water, but they can also move quickly in short bursts on land as well. If an alligator makes a hissing sound you need to move away, that is a warning sign that you are too close.
- Never try to move an alligator by yourself. If you find an alligator in a place where it should not be, or in a location where it cannot get back to water without posing risk to itself or others, call SCDNR.
Delayna Earley lives in Beaufort with her husband, two children and Jack Russell. She spent six years as a videographer and photographer for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette before leaving the Lowcountry in 2018. After freelancing in Myrtle Beach and Virginia, she joined The Island News when she moved back to Beaufort in 2022. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
