Alligators mate in the autumn and spring, and females build their nest mounds in the early summer. The females guard these nests against raccoons and other predators until the babies hatch about 2 months later. Female alligators will protect the young for a year or more after they hatch. The 8-inch babies grow about one foot a year, until they reach adult size. Adult alligators average 6-10 feet in length, with males being significantly larger than females.
Alligators have heavy bone structure and massive skulls.
Their jaws can exert incredible force, allowing them to crush turtles, snakes, birds, fish, and anything else small enough to eat. Even though alligators are powerful predators, they rarely attack people. The few attacks that occur usually involve an animal that has been fed and has lost its fear of humans. SREL researchers collected one of the largest alligators ever recorded in the state of South Carolina in 1996. American Alligator Photos provided by David Scott.