Alligators can be found in rivers, swamps, salt marshes, Carolina bays, and other wetlands across the Southeast. Alligators can be seen any month of the year in warm weather. They are often seen basking in the sun on land, or resting in shallow water during the day. They feed very little during the winter months because their bodies are unable to digest food at lower temperatures. Their bright red eyeshine can be seen from a considerable distance across the water.
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.